The #EndBadGovernance protesters on Thursday defiled the heavy presence of security to block the ever-busy Abuja-Keffi expressway as the scheduled nationwide protest over hardships commenced.
The protesters in their hundreds brandishing dangerous weapons overwhelmed the combined security operatives comprising soldiers, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as they clashed during the initial attempt to disperse them with teargas from the boundary check-point between Nyanya in Abuja and Mararaba in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Traders and owners of shops at the Building Material and other locations in Mararaba were going about their normal businesses earlier in the morning before the sudden appearance of the demonstrators chanting solidarity songs, causing everyone to scamper for safety.
The businessmen and market women hurriedly locked up their shops and ran for dear lives as well as to prevent the looting of their shops by angry protesters.
Eyewitness said about four vehicles were burned down and two persons were hit by stray bullets from soldiers. Thick black smoke from burning tyres billowed into the air.
Tribune Online also observed that most traders at the popular Nyanya market in the Abuja Municipal Area Council stayed away because of fear of what might happen.
Also, banks and other shopping outlets by the expressway were under lock and key.
One of the protesters, who gave his name as Jimoh, told Tribune Online, that it was insane for a government that claims that there is no money to spend over N21 billion on renovation of Vice-President’s residence.
“There is so much of looting going in this administration while the poor masses are suffering,” he said.
He said the demands of the youth in Nigeria are for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leaderships of the National Assembly to announce major cuts in their salaries and allowances, and reintroduce petrol subsidy until the government is prepared to provide measures to cushion the impact of subsidy removal.
He also added that the President should as a matter of urgency reform the electoral process in the country by first removing the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the President should address the hunger situation in the country where most families could not afford a meal in a day. “There is huge unemployment, what is the government doing about that? Companies are overtaxed, and a lot of them have closed down because of high taxation. Electricity tariffs are unbearable in a country where businesses are struggling to survive.
“Things cannot continue this way. Nigeria has all it takes to be a great nation but corruption and waste of money and resources is high. One Minister’s convoy is a President’s convoy in other countries. Who is going after them? If you are doing well, you don’t need to be afraid of your citizens, so we are saying enough is enough,” stated.