[Day-One]#EndBadGovernace: 17 Reportedly Killed, Govt Properties Looted, Destroyed

…Protest Peaceful In Osun, Other Southwest States

….As States Declare Curfew

 

The well-anticipated #EndBadGovernance protest slated to hold for 10 days started yesterday (Thursday) with Nigerians trooping out to express their frustration.

The protest was relatively peaceful in the Southern States but such could not be said of some Northern States where lives were lost and property destroyed.

Osun Defender gathered that no fewer than 17 persons were feared killed in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa during the first day of the protests.

In Abuja and Kano, one person was shot dead each, two killed in Jigawa, six others were reportedly gunned down by security forces in Niger, while four died in Borno and three in Kaduna.

Peaceful Rally In Osun

The protest kickstarted on Thursday, in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital with youths, okada riders, and market women hitting the streets to register their displeasure against the economic hardship ravaging the nation.

The ongoing protest which commenced at the Freedom Park, Old Garage, Osogbo moved to Olaiya, Aregbe, Ogo-Oluwa, Onward, Africa to the State Secretariat, Abeere.

 

The protesters also marched to the State House of Assembly on Gbongan/Ibadan road chanting solidarity songs in protest to the state of the nation.

Top on their demands is that the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu restore the nation’s economy to shape, combat insecurity, stabilise fuel prices, provide jobs for the youths, empower businesses to thrive, tackle food inflation and the myriads of challenges plaguing the country.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards include, “We Are Hungry”, “We Are Suffering”, “Say No to Bad Governance”, “Return The Economy To How You Met It,” “EndBadGovernance”, “Put Food On Our Table”, among others.

Addressing the crowd of protesters, one of the organisers of the protest, Alfred Adegoke said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has not done enough to improve the lives of the people.

Adegoke carpeted the nation’s political leaders, accusing them of putting the country in its present state with policies targeted at empowering a few at the detriment of the majority.

His words, “We demand that fuel subsidy be scrapped completely. We are aware that there is nothing like subsidy. They are only enriching themselves under the guise of the subsidy. Therefore, we don’t want to hear anything like subsidy anymore. We can’t afford to buy Garri anymore. We are tired.”

Apart from Osogbo, Osun State Capital, the protest also took place in Ile-Ife where students and residents came out to express their frustrations.

The protest was peaceful in Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Ogun States.

Killing, Looting, Destruction In Kano

Some hoodlums invaded the yet-to-be-commissioned Kano Digital Park and looted the building.

Also, the office of the National Communications Commission in Kano was set ablaze by some hoodlums.

There was major violence in the state which resulted in the death of one Ismael Musa and several others being injured.

 

Meanwhile, four people were reportedly killed after suspected Boko Haram members infiltrated a protest over the rising cost of living in Borno State.

Thirty-four others sustained injuries in the incident.

The State Commission of Police, Farouq Lawal, in a statement on Thursday, said the commander of the explosive ordnance device Base 13, was “swiftly” deployed to the scene.

“Boko Haram militants infiltrated a protest, killing four individuals and injuring 34 others,” Lawal said.

In Abuja, one of the protesters was reportedly shot dead along the Kubwa expressway.

An eyewitness, who identified herself as Ekaete, said the man, whose identity could not be immediately confirmed, was gunned down after the protesters became violent and blocked the highway.

‘’I was waiting for a bus on the expressway when the protesters in their numbers blocked the highway and harassed motorists. But as they became violent, the police fired live shots, killing the young man. Everybody took off on seeing the man fall,’’ she narrated.

Niger

About six people were reportedly killed by the police in Niger State while 11 persons were arrested for allegedly attempting to set ablaze Tafa LGA secretariat during the protest, according to Punch.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Waisu Abiodun, disclosed in Minna on Thursday that some hoodlums partially burnt part of the secretariat and looted valuable items.

Abiodun was silent on the number of persons killed during the incident.

He explained that at about 9:30 am, some miscreants from Tafa area of Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State and Hayin-Diko of Gurara Council Area of Niger stormed the secretariat located in Sabon-Wuse along Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

Abiodun said the hoodlums vandalised and partially set ablaze the secretariat, burnt two vehicles as well as vandalised two others.

He said the hoodlums went further to loot valuables inside offices in the secretariat, adding that in the process, police and other security agencies responded to the scene.

The spokesman further disclosed that the 11 suspects were nabbed with different dangerous weapons, including firearms while others were dispersed from the scene and some of the looted items were recovered.

He added that the police and other security agencies responded to the blockage of the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and the old toll gate to disperse the hoodlums who blocked it.

“Anyone caught engaging in violent demonstrations and any act of lawlessness would be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law,” he cautioned.

7 Mass Transit Buses Burn In Yobe

Seven mass transit buses were burnt in Potiskum, the headquarters of Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State on Thursday.

 

According to ChanelsTV, the buses were set ablaze on the premises of the local government secretariat in Potiskum.

An eyewitness said some persons came in their numbers to cause mayhem but were quickly prevented by the security personnel.

The Spokesman for the Yobe State Police Command, Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the incident at Potiskum, saying the perpetrators will be brought to book.

Gombe

In Gombe State, one person was feared killed during the rally but the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, denied the incident.

He said his officers recovered some looted items from criminals who operated in the disguise of the end bad governance protests.

Jigawa

Two persons were reportedly killed while many others sustained injuries after police fired live ammunition and teargas to disperse protesters in Jigawa State.

The protest took place in over 10 LGAs across the state with reports of destruction and looting of government property.