By Ayo Kehinde and Victor Osula
The nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship has kicked -off in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Abuja and in Lagos.
Amid the heavy presence of security operatives, the protesters who gathered at Ikeja Under-bridge, in Lagos, on Thursday morning, marched through the Alausa Secretariat to the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota and the Freedom Park in Ketu areas of Lagos.
Earlier, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare of the Lagos High Court restricted protesters in the State to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park between 8 am and 6 pm.
Meanwhile, another group of pro-government protesters gathered at the Lagos State Government Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, in solidarity with the government.
There is, however, a heavy presence of armed security agents and armoured tanks stationed around the Lekki Tollgate apparently in a show of force.
Security operatives have taken over major roads across Nigeria as protest against hunger and economic hardship kicks off nationwide.
Protesters around MKO Abiola National Stadium in the FCT.
In Abuja, the protesters gathered at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, displaying banners and placards with various inscriptions like: ‘Make Lawmaking a part-time job’, ‘End Bad Governance Now’, ‘Take It Back Movement’ etc.
THISAGE observed several security operatives with about 20 Toyota Hilux vans and three ambulances with the protesters. The commissioner of police, Benneth Igweh, who arrived the MKO Abiola National Stadium where an earlier, court rulings restricted protesters in Abuja, was besieged by protesters who argued that the judgement said stadium and not inside the stadium as the CP insisted, arguing that any attempts to apply force would be resisted.
Similarly, the court in Lagos and Ogun states, restricted protesters to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park in Lagos and in Ogun State to MKO Stadium, Abeokuta; Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota; Remo Divisional High School, Sagamu and Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.
Meanwhile, fuel stations, markets, and others are shut. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), major routes as well as bus stops were deserted, with most workers and traders staying back home due to the protest. The popular Utako market is also under lock and key while roads in the Jabi and Berger areas of the FCT are empty.
The ever-busy Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway, popularly known as Airport Road, is also deserted with a few cars seen on the road.
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