As the hunger protest escalates, companies across the region are grappling with mounting losses, with reports emerging that at least 17 individuals are feared dead as a result of the ongoing demonstrations. 

Six others were apparently shot by security personnel in Niger, four in Borno, three in Kaduna, two in Jigawa, and one each in Abuja, Kano, and Jigawa.

Though the protest started out peacefully, in certain cities it took a violent turn, resulting in violent altercations between demonstrators and police.

For fear of the protests turning into a crisis, banks, businesses, shopping centers, and some marketplaces remained closed.

One person was shot and killed during the protest in Abuja near the Kubwa expressway.

Eyewitness Ekaete, who went by that name, stated After the protesters turned violent and stopped the highway, the guy, whose identity could not be immediately established, was shot and killed.

As the demonstrators obstructed the route and harassed drivers in large numbers, I was waiting for a bus on the expressway. However, the young man was killed by live bullets fired by the police when they turned violent. ‘Everyone got excited about watching the man fall,’ she recounted.

Another incident involving demonstrators and the police happened at Eagles Square, Three Arms Zone, which is a short distance from the Presidential Villa.

Read Also: President Tinubu is with APC governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Protesters gathered in Eagles Square, calling for an end to the nation’s poor governance while shouting the traditional national anthem, ‘Arise, O Compatriots.’

The security guards returned fire, firing a few times. tear gas canisters to dissuade the demonstrators, who only responded with defiant shouts.

Ayodele Olawande, the minister of state for youth development, arrived at the site shortly after and tried to address the demonstrators, but they shouted him down with chants of ‘hunger dey’.

He did, however, issue an appeal for calm, saying that his goal was to urge civility rather than to put an end to the protest.

I’m not here to argue with you or to tell you not to protest; you have the freedom to do so. As I mentioned, I’ve attended between 100 and 500 protests,’ said Olawande.

But once the minister left, things quickly got out of control as the operatives started firing warning, non-lethal bullets at the demonstrators at around 10:30 am, then they started firing more poisonous gas and pepper spray. the earth.

With bravery, a demonstrator carrying a baby challenged the police officers to fire their weapon.

She informed reporters that after her husband was killed by bandits in Katsina, she brought her infant to the demonstration.

‘We are being fired at by the police while I came to express my protests about the suffering in Nigeria.’ Do they intend to murder my child as well? People are unable to eat.

The demonstrator, who remained anonymous, stated, ‘Things are hard.’

A group of protestors occupying the city gate was also targeted by tear gas shot by police officers in a helicopter.

In accordance with a court order that the FCT administration had previously acquired on Wednesday, some protestors had already assembled at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium as early as 6am, restricting them into the arena.

Nonetheless, they disobeyed the police order to hold their demonstration inside the stadium.

They subsequently relocated to Eagle Square after learning that security personnel were intimidating some demonstrators.

Five busloads of demonstrators in favor of the administration had already been transported to the stadium.

The youths with the placards declared their opposition to the hunger strike.

One of them acknowledged that they had received promises of N5,000 to stage counter-protests.

‘After picking us up, they (the organizers) promised to give us N5,000 so we could demonstrate against these guys. I am awaiting my balance after collecting N2,000. ‘Although I am hungry, the money you gave him won’t make things better,’ he said.

Damilare, the director of mobilization for the Take It Back Movement Adenola declared that the demonstration would go on until President Bola Tinubu gave in to their requests.

Among other things, the demonstrators want the shutdown of IDP camps, an end to insecurity, the price of gasoline to be reduced to N100 per liter, and electoral reform.

The different court decisions limiting demonstrators to specific areas, according to Adenola, are an anomaly. We are announcing that we have endured too much oppression by being here today. We are rising today.

We’re threatening to stay in the streets until President Bola Tinubu complies with our demands. The President should be seen in public. He was in the streets during the demonstration.

The demonstration will continue on Friday, according to Michael Lenin, one of its organizers. Despite the security agencies’ intimidation, (today).

‘The demonstration will go on,’ he declared. Nothing the security agencies do intimidates us. Given the manner that demonstrators were attacked today, it does not seem as though this government is willing to listen to the people. We are adamant that we will stay on the streets until he complies with our demands.

Protesters in Abuja blocked the main route that connects Karu-Kurudu and Karshi, yelling ‘Bamayi Tinubu,’ which translates to ‘We don’t want Tinubu.’ The demonstrators included women and small children.

While turning back cars and obstructing all traffic, several demonstrators were seen brandishing cudgels, while others were clutching leaves.

At the well-known sharp corner in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area, two people were allegedly struck by stray gunshots in The majority of civil officials employed in the FCT reside in Nasarawa State, an Abuja suburb bordering the metropolis.

Gunshots could be heard while the demonstrators lit up bonfires and blocked the Abuja-Keffi route.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, appealed for communication and stated that the government was open to have conversations with the youngsters as the level of tension and confrontation between the demonstrators and security agents grew.

Wike urged demonstrators in the nation’s capital to ‘sit down’ with the administration and engage in conversation, calling it a better peace process. Wike was subsequently observed inside the Presidential Villa.

During the presentation of the Office Staff to the four recently promoted chiefs in Abuja, Wike made this statement.

He declared, ‘We’ve seen multiple times that it discussion is preferable to sitting down and working out problems with the administration.

The one who brings about peace will ultimately get the benefits of it, so I urge you to keep working toward it.

‘I want to commend you and let our people know that we are still available to sit down and talk with them in order to work out any kinks.’

Eleven people were detained in Niger State after they were accused of trying to set fire to the Tafa LGA secretariat during the demonstration, and around six people were reported slain by the police there.

A portion of the secretariat was partially set on fire by some thugs, the command’s spokesperson, SP Waisu Abiodun, revealed in Minna on Thursday. and took valuables by plunder.

About how many people were slain in the tragedy, Abiodun remained silent.

According to his explanation, at approximately nine in the morning, a group of miscreants from the Tafa region of Kagarko LGA in Kaduna State and Hayin-Diko of Gurara Council region in Niger broke into the secretariat situated in Sabon-Wuse along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

Abiodun claimed that in addition to vandalizing and partially setting fire to the secretariat, the thugs also damaged and destroyed two cars.

He added that police and other security services were called to the scene as the thugs continued to steal goods from inside the secretariat’s offices.

The spokesperson further revealed that while some of the 11 suspects were removed from the scene, others were found in possession of various dangerous items, including firearms. The looted goods were found again.

The obstruction of the Kaduna-Abuja road and the old toll gate, he continued, prompted the police and other security services to move the thugs who were causing the obstruction.

‘Anyone caught engaging in violent demonstrations or any act of lawlessness would face decisive legal action,’ the speaker issued a warning.

Security personnel shot and killed two protestors at the Kaduna State Government House and six in Niger, according to the Civil Society Situation Room.

Olawale Okunniyi, the group’s head of coordination secretariat, disclosed that multiple additional protestors had suffered injuries in a statement on Thursday.

‘Report arriving at the Civil Society Situation Room, tracking incidents and moral observance of civil protests during the countrywide citizen mass hunger protests,’ he declared.

and sufferings in Nigeria from Kaduna, we have it on good information that security personnel shot and killed two demonstrators outside the Kaduna State Government House in Badikko.

‘Again, during the ongoing protest in Suleja, Niger State, at least six protesters are reported to have died and some to have been injured.

‘Security personnel reportedly struggled to remove a group of demonstrators who had set up a barrier on a stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna expressway when the victims were reported to have died.

A protest against the growing expense of living in Borno State is said to have been infiltrated by suspected members of Boko Haram, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.

In the incident, thirty-four more people were injured.

Borno’s commissioner of police, Farouq Lawal, stated in a statement on Thursday that the head of the Base 13 was ‘swiftly’ deployed to the area as an explosive ordnance device.

According to Lawal, ‘Boko Haram militants infiltrated a protest, killing four people and injuring thirty-four more.’

After a violent riot in Kano claimed the life of Ismael Musa, Governor Abba Yusuf imposed a 24-hour curfew on the city, accusing the rioters of being ‘enemies of progress.’

Additionally, several LGAs in the states of Yobe and Nasarawa were subject to curfews on Thursday.

In addition to murdering innocent people, these displeased individuals also stole their belongings. As the state’s chief security officer, I am able to establish a 24-hour curfew throughout the state,” he declared.

He gave the security personnel instructions to guarantee the successful implementation of his directive.

The peaceful protest organizers made demands, which the governor stated he will forward to the president.

At Hotoro, in the state’s Tarauni Local Government Area, Musa was killed.

On Thursday, the victim’s brother Mubarak verified that the Hotoro Danmarke resident was dead.

It’s uncertain if he was one of the demonstrators that flocked to the streets.

‘His funeral has now been conducted according to Islamic tradition.’

A second victim was reportedly struck by a stray bullet and was taken to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for medical attention.

When suspected thugs burst into a food store in Sarari Quarters, Dala LGA, at around 11.30 am, the protest in the old city took a violent turn. They stole rice, flour, pasta and a variety of foods.

The Nigeria Communications Commission office in Kano was set on fire by miscreants, according to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria.

Next week was to be the opening of the freshly built office.

The main roadways in Kano were also overrun by a big group of young people brandishing lethal weapons.

All stores in the Kano neighborhood of Hotoro were shuttered, and two businesses—a Rufaida store and a gas station—were set on fire.

The spokesman for the state Police Command, Abdullahi Kiyawa, verified in a statement that at least 260 offenders had been taken into custody.

These people committed violent, destructive, plundering, and harming activities against innocent bystanders, which led to the destruction of both public and private property.

In an expeditious and effective reaction to A total of 269 people were detained in connection with these illegal acts, including those who caused damage, stole, and caused disorder while posing as part of the national hunger strike.

The suspects were found to have a significant amount of food, stationery, and other valuable property in addition to numerous cans of 25 liters of groundnut oil.

The suspects are being held at the Command’s Criminal inquiry Department while the inquiry is being concluded. After that, charges will be brought against them. There have been more arrests and recoveries.

Additionally, the Kaduna State police command verified that a group of alleged thugs had attacked the State Traffic and Law Environmental Authority and the Investment Promotions Agency offices.

23 suspects had been apprehended, according to the command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, who denied it in an interview with NAN. Surveillants shot the suspects with live rounds.

Additionally, the demonstrators set fire to an armored personnel carrier and stole numerous stores, he claimed. Many members of our staff were hurt during their attempt to storm Government House, but they were stopped and are currently receiving medical attention at different hospitals.

Though a video on social media suggested that a young person was shot and killed by police after a clash with protestors, Hassan did not confirm any casualties.

Though Hayatu Usman, the Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, denied the occurrence, it was believed that one person had been slain during the march.

He claimed that on the pretext of ending protests against bad government, his officers were able to recover some looted things from criminals.

As demonstrators were stopped from demonstrating, according to our correspondent, the demonstration turned violent. arriving at the Gombe Government House after assembling at the roundabout next to the structure.

Fertilizer bags, office supplies, and other items were taken, and stores near Sabonline were forcibly opened.

In Jigawa State, demonstrators were dispersed by police using tear gas and live bullets, resulting in the reported deaths of two people and numerous injuries.

There were reports of looting and damage to government property during the protests, which occurred in more than ten LGAs around the state.

According to reports, one of the dead was shot in front of the Government House in Dutse, and the other died as protestors attempted to block the Maiduguri-Kano Road close to Shiwarin town.

The state capital of Dutse was the scene of protests as party cars were set on fire and the All Progressives Congress headquarters was set on fire.

Several Protesters set up a bonfire close to former president Muhammadu Buhari’s Daura, Katsina State, home.

At the same time, criminals infiltrated the hunger strike in select regions of the state and set fire to a Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps patrol van.

Protesters with signs bearing a variety of messages stormed the Government House in Katsina, the state capital, to voice their complaints.

When police used tear gas on the demonstrators, the rally turned violent as they set fire to NSCDC cars and looted them.

When demonstrators gathered at the Modoji Road roundabout, close to Katsina’s Government House, they tried to break through the security and meet with the acting governor. This resulted in violence.

The activist Omoyele Sowore denounced the murders and abuses of demonstrators throughout the nation, stressing that everyone has the freedom to express themselves peacefully.

The pictures that we are witnessing of nonviolent protestors being attacked, intimidated, and in certain cases shot dead are depressing and should be denounced, stated Sowore.

It is a human right to be able to protest peacefully. It is a right that is protected by our legal system and acknowledged worldwide.

Among other things, he attacked the government for not giving its people economic possibilities.

Los Angeles

Numerous demonstrators turned out in large numbers in Lagos on Thursday, demanding an end to the country’s economic suffering and poor leadership.

Most of the demonstrators were young people, and they started their march at 8 a.m. from the Ikeja Under Bridge and marched to Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota at roughly 11 a.m.

The Lagos State University The protestors were limited by the court to two sites in Ojota; nonetheless, they also staged demonstrations in Alausa to voice their complaints.

Among other things, they carried a number of posters demanding to ‘Tax the Rich,’ ‘End Bad Government in Nigeria,’ and ‘Reverse Fuel Subsidies.’

During the march from Ikeja to Ojota, many shops, offices, and banks were closed, and there weren’t many cars on the road, according to our correspondents.

While the protesters marched peacefully in the places our correspondents were covering, there were reports that police used tear gas to scatter some of the demonstrators at the Lekki Toll Gate.

Protesters in Ojota were led by Juwon Sanyaolu, the Take It Back Movement’s National Coordinator, and the National Coordinator Hassan Taiwo, of the Education Rights Campaign.

According to Sanyaolu, the purpose of the demonstration was to voice the complaints of the ‘hungry people’ in Nigeria and Lagos.

‘Those whose families are unable to purchase a single well-balanced meal per day as a result of the severe economic policies that the Bola Tinubu-led government has imposed on all of us,’ he went on.

It is crucial to note that this demonstration will carry on until August 10 or until the government repeals all of the policies it has implemented that are hostile to the people.

People who are unable to feed themselves cannot afford any loans in this economy, as you can see, so the FG must immediately reverse the withdrawal of fuel subsidies, reverse fee increases in schools, and provide grants to students instead of loans that they are unable to repay.

In the course of A man in Ojota demonstrated in full front of the public, complaining about the difficult economic circumstances while nude.

A patrol aircraft was observed circling above the #EndBadGovernance demonstration site in the Ojota.

For around twenty minutes, the white helicopter circled slowly around.

Steven Adams, a protester, stated that he was not prepared to enter the Gani Fawehinmi garden, citing the #EndSars protest incident that happened at the Lekki toll gate.

‘Because I am unaware of the police’s plans, I am concerned about security.’ Or perhaps it’s a trap?

A visit to the protest location was also made by Adegoke Fayoade, the commissioner of the Lagos State Police.

Upon his arrival at approximately 11:25 a.m., the police chief observed the demonstrators’ movements.

S’East avoids participating in protests

On Thursday, as the nationwide protest against hunger and poor governance gained momentum, residents of Enugu State observed sit-at-homes in protest against these issues. The state’s streets were devoid of demonstrators.

The state capital was visited by the Viztadaily correspondent, who reported that

Social and economic activity in Enugu came to a complete halt as locals chose to stay inside and avoid the demonstration.

As one of our journalists drove about the state capital at 10am, business spaces, including stores, gas stations, malls, and event centers, among others, were entirely locked and secured.

There was no one in any of the main markets in Enugu, including Ogbete Main Market, New Market, Abakpa Market, and Emene Market, despite the fact that their entrance gates were left open.

Only security personnel could be seen in the ShopRite and SPAR shopping centers, while troops with serious expressions on their faces and police officers on wheels guarded Okpara Square’s entrance.

There was no demonstration in the capital of Abia State, Umuahia, or Aba, the state’s commercial center, although banks, corporate offices, parking lots, and commercial buildings were closed.

In Ebonyi State, the situation was the similar, with banks and other companies closing.

Despite assurances from security services and the state administration regarding their safety, residents of Abakaliki, the state capital, refused to participate in the demonstration on Thursday and remained indoors out of fear.

Locked and keyed were the majority of banks along the busy Water Works and Ogoja Road.

Access Bank, UBA, Union Bank, Zenith Bank, and First Bank are a few among them. Nonetheless, the bank’s automated teller machines continued to function.

The state capital of Owerri was solely guarded by security personnel in an apparent show of power, thus locals chose not to take part in the demonstration.

Imo people refrained from taking part in the hunger protest since nobody was visible on the streets of Owerri.

In response to the force demonstration, PPRO Henry Okoye of the Imo command stated that it was done to give the populace more confidence that they could carry out their legal business.

On Thursday, business and economic activity in Anambra partially collapsed as a result of the anti-hunger demonstration.

While major markets in Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka were open, they were lacking of their usual security measures, while banks, gas stations, and car parks were locked. routine actions.

Since most locals opted to stay inside while some went about their daily lives in secrecy, there was no demonstration or gathering documented at any public area.
According to our correspondent’s checks, the state’s principal markets were open for business, but they were incredibly sparse and lacking in typical activity.

Very few buyers and consumers were observed opening their businesses in Onitsha’s always bustling Main Market, while other traders hung around the market to watch the action.

South-South

Reporters covering the national hunger protest in Delta State suffered physical abuse and had their cellphones broken by anti-protest demonstrators.

The Guardian, The Point, and Sahara Reporter colleagues, together with PUNCH writer Matthew Ochei, snapping images of the demonstrators opposing the protest.

Before they left, they insisted that we erase the pictures and videos, after which they broke our phones. The on-duty policeman folded their arms and stood by while they attacked us without a word.

‘The Pointer reporter, Mrs. Lucy, hurried to the military officers for assistance as soon as she was slapped,” the statement reads.

He continued by saying that while the military had to use their might to save the journalists and get their phones back, the Sahara Reporter’s phone was lost.

Although banks, stores, and business establishments were closed and roads were empty as security personnel took control of the city, the protest in Imo State was not successful.

Residents of Warri and the surrounding area avoided the demonstration and went about their reputable companies.

The majority of banks were closed to customers, presumably due to concerns about potential attacks by thugs. However, armed security officers were stationed at key intersections throughout the city, including the well-known Enerhen Junction,

Airport Junction, Jakpa Junction, Effurun Roundabout, PTI Junction, DSC Roundabout, and the Estate Roundabout, among others, seemingly prepared to prevent any potential breakdown in law and order.

In addition, the personnel under the command of Major Augustine Ohegbe of the 3rd Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, were stationed to keep an eye on the situation.

The Warri Area Commander, ACP Graham Imade, declared at the Effurun Roundabout, ‘We are here to ensure there is peace.’ Everybody knows that a nonviolent demonstration is planned across the nation.

We’re making our way around Warri is currently tranquil throughout the entire city. In order to make sure that law and order doesn’t collapse, we have also sent police.

Notwithstanding, the Viztadaily News learned that there were isolated incidents of protest at the Sapele Local Government Area of Delta’s Amukpe Roundabout along the Sapele/Benin Expressway.

But it didn’t reach Sapele, where people went about their daily lives in the little traveled areas.

Police presence and heavy rains in Akwa Ibom caused disruptions to the rally.

The national scheduled hunger demonstration in the state was hampered by early Thursday morning rains that persisted for several hours.

Protesters had gathered at Unity Park, near Udo Udoma Avenue, the location allowed by the police for the protest beginning.

The majority of Uyo’s roadways, according to our corresponding, Few vehicles left the state capital and other important cities, such Eket and Ikot Ekpene, empty, leaving passengers

stranded.

Fearing looting, most businesses, banks, and marketplaces were closed, and most civil personnel did not report for duty.

Certain stores in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, that had been closed on Thursday morning reopened as long as things stayed quiet.

Some commercial banks, on the other hand, closed early for business and only let people into their buildings who wanted to use their ATMs. These officials had conducted client vetting in the morning.

In the meantime, certain neighborhoods outside the capital of Edo State, Benin City, saw an attempt by thugs to take over the demonstration.

A few alleged thugs in Country Home, off Sapele Road built a bonfire as early as 6:30 in the morning and were charging N500 to anyone wishing to enter the town.

Comparable circumstances existed in Okagbare, Ikueniro, Upper Mission Road, and other places. A trailer load of rice purportedly owned by the state government was looted in Iduowina, behind Bethel Faith Academy.

Edo State Command, the headquarters of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, was strongly guarded by stern-looking, heavily armed agency personnel at the same Upper Sakponba Road.

This was to stop the office from being burned down and from being used as a cover for ammunition and hard drugs that the agency had seized.

Businesses in the state were forced to close as young people in Benin actively engaged in the anti-hunger protest and blocked the highways. In addition to the banks and other businesses on the main thoroughfares being closed, government facilities were well guarded.

Singing hits by well-known artists like Fela, Eedris Abdulkareem, African China, and others, the demonstrators set up a platform across from the museum at Ring Road, where they had assembled.

Funsho Adegboye, the state commissioner of police, praised them for their nonviolent behavior.

He declared, ‘This is why I have insisted that the demonstration be nonviolent. Although I am impressed by what you have accomplished, you have the fundamental human right to protest, which no one can take away from you.

Other states ought to take note of Edo State as their model. To keep you and me safe, all of our men are here. I’m providing water and some snacks to help you with this relaxing exercise.

Opponents find Fubara annoying.

More than five hundred young people carrying placards marched to the Government House along the popular Aba Road in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rainy State.

Among the statements on their banners were, ‘We say no to bad governance in Nigeria,’ ‘There is hunger in the land,’ ‘Tinubu must go,’ ‘A cup of rice is N400, how can the common man survive,’ and other statements.

Governor Siminalaye Fubara provoked the wrath of the protesting youngsters at the Government House by promising to give them money for pure water and by pleading with them to go back home, setting off a light drama.

‘I appreciate you being tranquil. I am grateful that you could attend. Your pain is felt by me. I would want to reassure you that I will forward your correspondence to the President.

‘We’ll stop at nothing to improve lives in Rivers State. However, all we want of you is your support of the federal government. We understand there is hunger, but please be understanding with the administration.

Fubara said to the young people, ‘I’ll give you a little something so you can drink pure water.’

To his remarks about ‘pure water,’ however, the youths collectively yelled, ‘No, we don’t need your money; keep it; we want good governance in Nigeria.’ Tinubu has to go.

The governor made an attempt to calm them down and clarify his intentions, but they were ignored. Infuriated, she kept on talking back.

A few journalists and activists were assaulted, handcuffed, and transported by security personnel to unidentified locations in Calabar, Cross River State.

As our correspondent discovered The security personnel escorted Jonathan Igbal, the managing editor of the online site CrossRiverWatch, and other activists who participated in the nonviolent demonstration on Thursday morning to an undisclosed location.

The journalists and activists were detained on the first day of their ten-day planned protest against terrible governance, which was held near Calabar’s well-known Mary Slessor roundabout.

Human rights attorney James Ibor responded by saying, ‘We invite the authorities to present any proof that Ugbal and other individuals were violent.’

hunger protest