An outcry against soaring food costs that commenced at dawn on Thursday escalated into chaos when reports surfaced of thugs highjacked a truck packed with essential provisions along the Suleja-Kaduna road.
With apprehension looming, Ekiti State police issued a stark warning to those behind the “End Nigeria Protest,” advising them to reconsider their intention to take to the streets of Ekiti State on Friday.
Lately, the nation has been marked by sporadic protests and a surge of discontent fueled by the soaring expenses of daily life and the exorbitant prices of essential goods. Over the past weeks, inhabitants of Kano, Ogun, Niger, and Oyo States have expressed their grievances through public demonstrations against the mounting living costs attributed to rampant inflation.
Eyewitness reports indicate that in Niger, the hijackers seized a trailer filled with rice and other goods on Thursday. Witnesses observed them overpowering the driver and embarking on a spree of theft from the vehicle.
Afterward, a contingent of security personnel, including soldiers, police officers, and civil defense personnel, arrived at the protest site and began deploying tear gas to scatter the demonstrators.
“I saw the miscreants surrounding the trailer and chanting protest songs that it was their food. Before we knew what was happening, the hoodlums had overpowered the driver of the trailer who had to run for his dear life and they began to steal from the trailer. It took sometime before security operatives got to the scene to start shooting teargas and trying to make arrests,” the eyewitness said.
Wasiu Abioidun, the police spokesperson in Niger State, verified that the Suleja Area Commander, ACP Sani Musa, coordinated patrol units to the location and successfully dispersed the demonstrators, restoring the highway to facilitate uninterrupted traffic flow.
“There was a protest this morning along the Kaduna-Suleja Road and the protest plan was not communicated to the police. It was later discovered to be hijacked by some miscreants who blocked the highway.
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“Area Commander Suleja, ACP Sani Musa, mobilised patrol teams to the scene, dispersed the protesters and the highway was cleared for free flow of traffic;however, monitoring continues,” Abiidun said.
The police spokesman was unable to provide confirmation regarding the number of hoodlums arrested at the time this report was filed.
In recent weeks, a surge of protests against the prevailing hardships has swept through the nation. It all began with the demonstration in Kpakungu, Minna, where women took the lead.
In a repeat occurrence within just one week, activists in Osun State once again gathered on the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, on Thursday, engaging in a peaceful protest to highlight the prevailing economic hardship experienced by Nigerians.
Activists in the state organized a peaceful protest last Thursday, rallying against the increasing cost of living and committing to sustain their advocacy until the government addressed the issue and implemented measures to mitigate the rising expenses.
Mr. Waheed Lawal, at the helm of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, spearheaded the protesters’ movement from Freedom Park in Osogbo, guiding them along MDS road to Olaiya Junction, where he shared his remarks with the assembled crowd.
As the protesters made their way through the streets, singing songs to express their grievances about the high cost of living, they were closely trailed by armed security personnel.
Addressing the crowd during the protest, Lawal urged President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the fuel subsidy as a measure to alleviate further hardships faced by Nigerians.
He said, ‘No one believes things will turn out like this. We did not write a letter inviting Bola Tinubu to become our President.’
‘He was the one who said it was his time ‘Emi Lokan’ and chose to be the President. Now that he has become the President, nothing is working under him.’
He further stated that their appearance that day was merely to issue a warning that they would soon mobilize fully to occupy the streets, indicating that the protest would be extensive.