Hunger protesters on Saturday concluded their 10-day nationwide demonstrations against economic hardship, pledging to stage a 10-million-person march if President Bola Tinubu fails to address their demands.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began on August 1, saw their final act in Abuja, where protesters had planned a one-million-man march to mark the end of their campaign.
Demonstrators gathered early in the morning, assembling around Ebano Supermarket and heading towards Galadimawa junction.
However, their march was met with a harsh crackdown by security operatives who used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd.
The police arrived approximately three hours into the protest, and their intervention forced the protesters to flee for safety. Fortunately, no lives were reported lost during this confrontation.
One protester described the events, “We started at 6:30 a.m. and marched until about 9:00 p.m. before they broke us up. We began from Ebano Supermarket and headed towards Galadimawa roundabout, but before we reached there, the police came and chased us away. They didn’t shoot live bullets directly at us, but they used tear gas. As the gunshots started, we had to run to avoid being hit. We are not afraid of tear gas and arrests; our goal is to fight for a better country.”
Rasheed, another protester, emphasized the ongoing nature of their struggle, “This protest is just the beginning of what’s to come if the government continues to ignore our demands. We will regroup and return even stronger. Personally, this country has taken so much from me that I fear nothing and have nothing to lose. Nigerian youths are simply asking for good governance. It’s not rocket science; we deserve to enjoy our homeland.”
Amnesty International reported over 20 fatalities nationwide during the protests, highlighting the severe impact of the demonstrations.
Despite President Tinubu’s address to the nation on Sunday, calling for an end to the protests, many Nigerians remained dissatisfied with his response and continued their demonstrations.
In Lagos, the anticipated one-million-man march had little effect. The planned protest saw a sparse turnout, with residents largely staying away and business activities proceeding as usual across the city, including in key areas such as the Island, Mainland, and Ikeja.
Security forces were heavily deployed in Ojota, the designated protest area, and other strategic locations to prevent any potential unrest.
This strong security presence ensured that no significant incidents occurred, marking the final day of the #EndBadGovernance protests as relatively uneventful in Lagos compared to other parts of the country.
