The #EndBadGovernance protests which began August 1, 2024 in Nigeria have ignited a nationwide outcry against escalating economic hardships and systemic corruption.
Sparked by the removal of fuel subsidies and rising costs of living, thousands of young Nigerians have taken to the streets, demanding accountability and reform.
This movement echoes past protests, like #EndSARS, highlighting a growing frustration with ineffective leadership and a desire for change.
As demonstrators chant for justice and transparency, the government’s response reveals fears of unrest, underscoring the urgency of addressing the people’s grievances amidst a backdrop of historical discontent.
The police in Kano arrested 13 suspects for vandalising vehicles at the Kano State High Court premises.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Salma Dogo said the suspects were apprehended at the court premises while carrying out the act.
He said a proactive security measure is being implemented to ensure the safety of residents both within and outside the metropolis.
“The police, in collaboration with other security agencies, are conducting intensive patrols to guarantee the safety of residents.
“We urge residents to cooperate with security personnel by providing intelligence information on any individual or groups found in possession of dangerous weapons.
“This collaboration aims to maintain law and order in the state,” Dogo said.
One person identified as Ismael Ahmad Musa has been killed in Hotoro, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.
The victim, a resident of Hotoro Danmarke, was confirmed dead by his brother, Mubarak, on Thursday.
It is unclear if he was among the protesters who trooped to the streets.
He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
Daily Trust also reports that another victim who reportedly sustained serious injuries is battling for his life at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
He was suspected to also have been hit by a stray bullet.
Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is reporting that the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) office in Kano has been set ablaze.
A large number of youths, who were armed with dangerous weapons, also took over major roads in Kano., according to NAN
The newly constructed office was scheduled for inauguration next week.
In the Hotoro area of Kano, all shops were closed while a filling station and a Rufaida shop were also set ablaze.
Some residents urged the authorities to take immediate action to restore order and protect lives and property in the state.
A resident of Charanchi in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, Isa Musa, described the current situation as a threat to humanity.
Musa urged the police to deploy additional personnel to the area to address the deteriorating security situation and restore order.
“The situation requires prompt action to ensure the safety and security of residents, protect property, and maintain law and order in the metropolis,“ he said.
The peaceful protest against hardships and hunger led by various youth groups in Katsina on Thursday, August 1, turned violent when police teargassed the demonstrators, leading to the looting and burning of vehicles belonging to the Civil Defense Corps.
Violence erupted when different protest groups converged at the Modoji Road roundabout near Government House Katsina, attempting to force their way into the premises to meet the Acting Governor but were resisted by security agencies.
The violence led to several injuries, including three policemen.
At the time of this report, the acting governor is holding an emergency meeting with civil society groups and the media.
It was drama unlimited at Eagle Square Abuja on Thursday as many #ENDBADGOVERNMENT protesters that gathered at public place insisted on staging a rally there despite attempts by police operatives to send them away by firing several cannisters of tear gas.
The protesters’ action was in defiance of a court order granted the previous day restricting the mass protest in Abuja to only the MKO National Stadium.
The protesters had stormed the Eagle Square, saying a few days ago a parallel protest had been held at the same place without any hindrance by the police.
The police operatives stationed at the place then in an attempt to make the area unconducive for the protesters shut canisters of tear gas in air and open spots.
But the protesters were not perturbed as they went on singing and displaying the national flag and placards.
Later, Minister of State for Youths Development, Ayodele Olawande, arrived at the Eagles Square and attempted to address the crowd.
As the minister tried to speak, the protesters continued to chant “hunger dey”, preventing him from talking.
However, after quelling the crowd, the minister said, “I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to ask you not to protest. It is your right. Like I said, I’ve been to over 100-500 protests.”
Elsewhere in Abuja, protesters were also seen in high spirits at the MKO Stadium.
They were orderly and expressed their grievances via placards with different messages.
It was discovered that those stadium are advancing towards the Eagle Square to join others.
Security operatives had earlier unsuccessfully convinced them to move inside the stadium and not outside for the protest.
Meanwhile the FCT Police Command, yesterday said it was not the police division that was burnt, but the police container compartment at Nyanya checkpoint that was set ablaze. This the Command said is contrary to the news making rounds that Nyanya division is being burnt down by violent protesters.
A statement by the Command’s Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, also explained that the attempt to vandalize the Tipper Garage Police post by four suspects, Mathias Jude 29 ‘m’ of Nyanya Area D, Mohammad Ahmed 23, Abba Jibril 18 and Mohammad Haruna 18, was also foiled and the identified suspects arrested.
The commissioner of police FCT, Benneth Igweh, while acknowledging the right of residents to protest, frowned at destruction of public or police infrastructure.
He vowed that any violent protesters arrested for destroying public property would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, it took the intervention of the patrol team of the Nigerian military, contingent of Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in collaboration with local vigilante group to dispel unruly hoodlums who hijacked the protest in Mararaba, a border town, close to the federal capital territory.
The violent miscreants who took over Abuja/Keffi express way burning tires in the middle of the roads to obstruct vehicular movement where forced to retreat intermittently by gun shots and tear gas from the security agencies.
A bystander, who identified himself as Christopher said he trecked five kilometers to escape the barricade and the harsh tear gas being fired at the violent miscreants along Abuja Keffi express way, following their unruly attitude and illegal activities.
“I left the house to buy gas at the gas station close to royal dream hotel in Mararaba. Unfortunately, the station did not open for business. I also went to collect a package at the plaza close to the gas station and the plaza was also not opened for business because of the protest. As I returned to the express to board a taxi back home, I noticed that all the vehicles and okada riders were making u-turn back to Masaka and I was heading towards sharp corner”.
He said that he maneuvered his way to sharp corner on foot due to the barricade of the road by the hoodlums.
He prayed that the military and security agencies are able to sustain their action against the hoodlums to prevent them from looting private businesses within the area.
Another victims of the violent protest, explained how the motorcycle of the okada rider who brought him to Abacha Road in Mararaba was stopped and his motorcycle dismembered for not carrying green leaf in solidarity to the hunger protest.
Okada riders and their passengers were compelled to carry green leaves in solidarity and those who fail to comply are molested and beaten up.
Also the Head, Defence and Crime Desk, Vanguard newspaper, Kingsley Omonobi’s vehicle windscreen was shattered by tear gas canister fired by police at Eagle Square.
When contacted to find out if the police is going to use force to stopped the violent protest, the Force Spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did not take his calls or respond to message sent to him on the subject matter, as at press time.
Meanwhile, a highly place source in the military who did not want his name in print because he was not authorized to speak on the matter said the police is the right Institution to speak on the next line of action, and not the military.
According to him, the operation is an internal security operation and the police is the lead security agency in the operation.
“You can see that the police is taking the lead and that is the correct thing. The military is just on stand by and it is only when we are called upon that we would be fully involved in what is happening,” he said.
