Organisers of the protest had said the march would signal the end of the 10-day protest against economic hardship.
In preparation for the march, security agencies deployed operatives into cities as roadblocks were mounted.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.657.0_en.html#goog_1908278864 16-Year-Old Apprentice Allegedly Raped by Mistress’…
Low turnout in Abuja
The security situation was the same on Saturday as the police mounted barricades on all roads leading to Eagle Square, the venue where the protesters intended to converge for the protest.
Although protests were held in the Lokogoma and Apo areas of the FCT, the turnout was noticeably lower compared to previous events.
The protest waned in the FCT after security forces targeted leaders, arresting and shooting at protesters.
After there was calm, protesters returned to the streets.
The youth, who began their demonstration as early as 7 am were chrousing ‘End hunger’ and ‘Reverse fuel subsidy removal,” among others.
Rivers police patrol
In Rivers, protesters were absent on the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs.
It was the third day in a roll that residents refused to come out over fear that the demonstration would be hijacked by hoodlums.
This came as operatives of the Rivers State Police Command embarked on a show of force with huge presence in strategic parts of the state.
The state spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Friday night, had said some miscreants were planning to hijack the one million-man march to loot and attack peaceful residents.
One of our correspondents, who monitored the state on Saturday, reported that cops were seen in patrol vans as security was intensified.
Police patrol vans were also mounted at the gate of the Federal Secretariat, while several operatives hung around in vigilance in the event of any untoward incident.
When contacted, one of the supporters of the protest, Gogo Wellington, said he did not show up due to fear of violence.
He recalled with bitterness how some persons tried to attack some protesters.
“For that reason, we decided not to come out to avoid any clash.
“We hope that the government will be up and doing and immediately address the problems,” he added.
Kaduna, Kano, Katsina stop protest
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that residents of Kaduna, Kano and Katsina States shunned the one-million-man nationwide protest.
NAN added that hordes of people were seen going about their business activities.
Markets, motor parks, supermarkets and other economic activities were going on unfettered.
Commercial motorists and motorcyclists were also busy conveying passengers to and from their various destinations.
The Kaduna State Government insisted that unverified processions were not permitted in the state for reasons of public safety and security.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, gave the warning in a statement on Saturday.
In Kano, some of the residents of Kano metropolitan local government areas said they would not participate again in any form of protests in the state.
The police and military personnel were also deployed in strategic locations in the state.
In Katsina, protest organisers complied with the order issued by the police and the state government that banned all forms of protests and unlawful assembly.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, said the order was still in force across the state.
He said the measure was aimed at preventing further escalation of violence, vandalism, and looting of private and public property.
Edo residents shun demonstrations
The Civil Society Organisations, organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest in Edo State, could not gather people for a rally on the final day of the protest.
The group, which had chosen Ring Road as its protest venue, withdrew from the protest on the third day, stating that they would review their strategy.
The state capital, Benin, was peaceful on Saturday, with residents going about their business unhindered.
Oba Market and Lagos Street, the major commercial hubs, experienced a surge of activity as people conducted their transactions.
Similarly, Uromi in Edo Central and Auchi in Edo North were also peaceful, with no protests taking place in those areas.
Kola Edokpayi, speaking on behalf of the Concerned Civil Society Group in Edo, confirmed that there were no plans to resume the strike on Saturday.
Plateau protesters meet gov
Meanwhile, a coalition of youths in Plateau State presented its demands to the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Saturday, for transmission to President Bola Tinubu.
Ondo gov candidate arrested
Meanwhile, men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested no fewer than nine youths who took part in the #EndBadGovernance protest in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Saturday.
It was gathered that the protest, which happened at the NEPA Roundabout area in Akure, the state capital, was disrupted by men of the state police command.
According to one of the protesters, Tope Temokun, some of those arrested are the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, Kunle Ajayi; Patrick Owolabi, Oluwatobi Akinkuotu, Kolawole Kumuyi and Olalekan Oladehinde.
He said, “The arrest that took place is highly condemnable and stands condemned. If the police has any evidence of violence from the protesters, it should come out with it.
Credit: Punch