Anger, Violence, Looting Rule Day 1 of Hunger Protest

By Damola Emmanuel

Despite the unprecedented heavy deployment of security agents across the country, organisers of the #ENDBADGOVERNMENT made good their promise as protesters locked down the country on Thursday, August 1, 2024, the first day of the 10 days demonstrations called to protest excruciating hardship in the land.

Tension was so thick in the build-up to the nationwide demonstrations that most analysts were apprehensive that hoodlums or some fifth columnists might hijack the process and convert it to opportunity for violent crime.

Reports from most parts of the country showed that the day started slowly and peacefully in most of the city centres with protesters taking to the streets or designated centres, singing solidarity songs, waving banners with varying inscriptions; expressing their frustrations at the situation of things in the country.

But as the day wore on, things began to unravel as the population of protesters swelled, many of the vituperating over the increasing level of hunger and poverty.

In Lagos, protesters gathered at under the Ikeja bridge chanting anti-government songs. But it was generally peaceful although security operatives were everywhere.

In Lagos, crowd of protesters gathered at Ojota, with their population swelling rapidly by the minute. Lekki Toll Gate, the epicenter of the 2020 #ENDSARS protest, was empty in the early hours of the morning. Human and vehicular movements were scanty. And hordes of security agents, particularly the police, were at high alert and determined not to allow any protest in the area. They left nobody in doubt that they meant business because they used teargas to disperse the handful of protesters who dared the order that branded Lekki Toll Gate as a no-go area.

Economic activities in the country were paralysed by the demonstrations as offices, banks, and shops were under lock and key.

The demonstrations mimicked the wave of unrest spreading across Africa in places like Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and now Nigeria.

If the protests were generally peaceful in Lagos, they spiraled out of control in most parts of the north especially Kano, Borno, Yobe and Zamfara States. Kano started on a peaceful note as protesters marched to the Government House where they were received by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who praised them for their orderliness and patriotism. He received their protest letter and promised to deliver it to the President.

But the demonstration would soon get out of control as hoodlums infiltrated the protesting throng and everything became riotous. Hoodlums targeted the newly completed Digital Innovation Park and looted the place. The violence spread quickly as the hoodlums also looted and torched part of the state secretariat, the Audu Bako Secretariat, as well as the state high courts. Mosques and private businesses were not spared either.

Eyewitness account had it that several rampaging youths also stormed and looted the Digital Innovation Park, scheduled for commissioning next week, and carted away brand-new computers and furniture. Many vehicles were also burnt.

The police responded to the chaotic situation by firing tear gas at the protesters. To curtail the spread of the orgy of violence by the rampaging youths, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made a statewide broadcast and imposed a 24-hour curfew.

While three people were reportedly killed in Kaduna, and rioters looted and burned down one NSCDC bus in Katsina, curfew was also imposed on Nasarawa, Yobe (where seven buses were burnt) and Borno States respectively to prevent escalation. While Kebbi was peaceful, in security operatives had to disperse protesters with tear gas in Borno and Zamfara States respectively. In fact, four people were reportedly killed in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

The demonstrations were also peaceful in Rivers State where Governor Similayi Fubara received the protesters and appealed to them to be calm as their agitation would be transmitted to the relevant authorities.

The Governor emphasized the need for calm and vigilance so as not to allow people who, according to him, may want to exploit the protest to cause mayhem.

There was no protest in Anambra State as citizens were going about their normal businesses without fear or let, a situation that gladdened the heart of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo.

According to CNN, gunshots rang out in Abuja and in neighboring Niger State as police lobbed tear gas to disperse defiant protesters. In Niger, at least six people were feared dead, according to some local media.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed that one policeman was killed during the nationwide hardship protest on Thursday. He also disclosed that some of his men were seriously injured by hoodlums who disguised as protesters; while the rampaging rioters razed some police stations across the country.

He described the events in major cities on Thursday as “mass uprising and looting, not protests”, blaming the leaders of the protests who, he claimed, were not around to lead the rallies despite the initial warnings of the police. Their absence, the IGP submitted, gave room for hoodlums to take over the demonstrations.

“Police stations have been destroyed,” Egbetokun lamented. “There have been attempts to take over government houses,” he said, adding that looting of public and private warehouses and facilities was widespread.

“In places like FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured.

“In light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to public safety and order,” the IGP said