The federal capital territory, Abuja was calm, yet officers of the Nigerian Police prevented protesters from having any breathing space on Day 5 of the #EndBadGovernmentProtests.
At noon on Monday, the capital city was calm within the city Centre while the national stadium, the supposed venue of the protest, was agog with a few minutes of drama, but the police, in their show of power exercise, moved around, scaring protesters with their long and armoured vehicles.
While that lasted, members of the protesting youths arrived at the stadium in a long coaster bus intending to mobilize and commence the fifth-day struggle. But that could not happen as the police, who were battle-ready, shot at them with tear gas canisters.
Protesters in the bus choked as the driver made his way out to a safer place.
At this point, they asked everyone to leave the arena or get brutalized.
Some of the protesters condemned the action of the police saying it’s against the fundamental human rights of the protesters.
They called on the president to reverse among other things, the removal of the oil subsidy and increment on the electricity tariff.
They also asked that the president allow the youths to protest as he’s a product of protest.
They also call for the removal of critical oil sector personnel who are suspected to be doing a racket with Nigeria’s commonwealth.
The Protesters vowed to strategize and resume protest for the remaining 5 days of the 10-day protest in Abuja.
BLESSING OKERE, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
MMA ODI, ALLIANCE FOR CREDIBLE ELECTION
ENE OBI, COUNTRY DIRECTOR ACTION AID
Source: Swifteradio.com
