Some young people in Niger State have taken to the streets in protest of the hardships that Nigerians are now enduring ahead of their hunger strike, which is scheduled to take place from August 1 to August 12 under the hashtag #Endbadgovernment.
This occurs just a week after Mohammed Bago, the governor of Niger State, declared that the state’s youth would not demonstrate in the streets because they were peace-loving.
According to credible information that PUNCH received, several young people from the State gathered in the streets of Niger State to express their disapproval of Nigeria’s continuous dilemma of high living expenses.
The young people were spotted carrying signs along the Tafa local government motorway that said things like, “Enough is Enough,” “Stop Anti-Masses Policies,” “We Are Not Slaves In Our Country,” “Hardship Is Unbearable,” and “Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back.”
It was reported that the young protestors marched down the Abuja-Kaduna motorway while singing songs critical of the administration.
Sule Ndaji, an eyewitness, confirmed to PUNCH that the protest did in fact occur and that the young people were persuaded to put down their swords till the day of the countrywide demonstration by soldiers stationed along the highway.
“This morning, I witnessed the demonstrators screaming anti-government songs and holding placards. The teenagers were calmed down by the military on the motorway, Ndaji added, ordering them to hold off until the protest date.
Numerous organisations and agencies in Niger State had promised that the state’s young would not participate in the hunger strike, highlighting the fact that the organisers were anonymous and that thugs and other miscreants might take advantage of the event.
In order to prevent the State from becoming involved in any protests, the governor had also provided palliative care to the people of Niger.
“We will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes of our approximately 100,000 metric tonnes of food reserves to be sold at 50% of their current price. We’re going to cut food costs by 90% before the year ends,” Bago declared at a town hall meeting.
Abiodun Wasiu, a spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the protest and said that some young people had been spotted on the Abuja-Kaduna Motorway but had since been driven away by police officers.
The problem is that when a few youngsters were found near Kaduna Road, Area Commander Suleja and his troops responded right away, bringing the situation under control. They were quickly scattered.
“The Abuja Kaduna Road was not blocked in any way. We had also heard stories that there was something wrong with Madalla, but as I talk with you, there was nothing wrong with Madalla.
The Area Commander is keeping an eye on the situation in Suleja and its surroundings, though, and is putting on a show of force. The region is peaceful as we speak, therefore individuals should carry on with their legitimate business, Wasiu stated.