The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: End Bad Governance Protest

  • [BREAKING] Nationwide Protest: Man shot by policemen in Kaduna as hoodlums wreak havoc, attack journalists in Kano

    [BREAKING] Nationwide Protest: Man shot by policemen in Kaduna as hoodlums wreak havoc, attack journalists in Kano

    An unidentified man has been killed by policemen in Kaduna according a video shared by News Central TV on their verified X handle.

    In the graphic video, men of the Nigerian Police Force were seen shooting live bullets at protesters and as they took to their heels, an unidentified man was gunned down.

    Meanwhile, hoodlums, armed with various weapons, on Thursday, took to the streets in parts of Kano metropolis, attacking shops and offices, looting property, and engaging in mob actions.

    The marauding hoodlums were seen carrying off items such as office furniture, air conditioners, and metal signboards.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a bus carrying journalists from various media outlets were also attacked along Sokoto Road.

    The hoodlums used sticks and machetes to shatter the bus windows, injuring TVC and Leadership reporters with glass sprinkles.

    Earlier in the day, protesters had gathered in front of the Government House, chanting anti-government slogans and calling for change.

    The situation, however, turned violent as tyres were set ablaze, with security forces forced to disperse the crowd with teargas.

    Several locations, including Rufaida Yoghurt at Kabuga, Kano Printing Press, and the NCC Office at Audu Bako Secretariat, were targeted by the looters.

    Also, some personal properties and houses near the Government House were attacked and looted by the hoodlums.

    Pacesetter/Premium Times/NAN

  • PROTEST: The Right Thing at the Wrong Time for Enugu Youths—Young Fellows Initiative

    PROTEST: The Right Thing at the Wrong Time for Enugu Youths—Young Fellows Initiative

    With less than 24 hours to the August 1st hunger protest, one of the prominent youth organizations in Enugu State, Young Fellows Initiative (YFI), has appealed to the youths of the state to shun the protest.

    The National Coordinator of the Young Fellows Initiative, Ozonwachukwu Johnkings, while acknowledging the valid reasons for the protest, stressed that “the right thing, when done at the wrong time, can sometimes lead to chaos rather than change.”

    Ozonwachukwu, in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, called on the youths of Enugu to consider the bigger picture and understand the need to refrain from participating in a protest that might derail the positive efforts of Governor Peter Mbah.

    Highlighting some of the key achievements of Mbah’s administration, he noted that the protest could negatively impact the pace of ongoing work, emphasizing the need for reconsideration.

    “We believe in the power of action, but we also recognize the necessity of timing. We face a critical juncture where the urgency of our initiatives must align with strategies that ensure effective and meaningful impact.

    “We call for a thoughtful discourse on how we champion our causes. We urge our fellow youths to consider not just the importance of the issues at hand, but also the context in which we advocate for them.

    “At the moment, our governor has turned our state into a construction site with numerous projects underway simultaneously. Some of these projects, such as the Enugu International Conference Center and Hotel Presidential, will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and we must not do anything that hinders this progress.

    “To tackle the security challenges in the state, His Excellency is installing high-definition CCTV cameras and is also addressing the long-standing water crisis, with results already beginning to show.”

    He cautioned against “hasty decisions that can undermine our progress. We seek collaboration, understanding, and deliberate action. Our generation is ready to lead, but we must do so with wisdom and awareness, ensuring that our actions resonate and reach those who need to hear them.”

    While acknowledging the need for youths to press their demands, he further suggested that “we must be wise. For when we do the right thing at the right time, that is when true change occurs!”

  • Nationwide Protests: Organisers disagree with IG over confined protests, say they must protest on streets

    Nationwide Protests: Organisers disagree with IG over confined protests, say they must protest on streets

    Organisers of the planned #EndBadGovernance nationwide demonstrations slated for August have rejected a proposal by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for confined protests.

    At a meeting with the organisers on Tuesday, the IGP suggested confined protests in identified locations and advised against street rallies.

    “It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest, some are planning violence,” the IGP advised.

    However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer for the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups organising the nationwide protests, rejected the proposal of the IGP.

    Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), other lawyers, civil society organisations as well as some arrowheads of the planned protests also attended the virtual meeting.

    The planned protests against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, have been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital Abuja in August.

    Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

    The police, military and the Department of State Services had warned against Kenya-styled protests. Politicians, who surmised that the planned rallies might end up like the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020, have continued to appeal to youths to shelve the planned rallies but the young people remain unfazed, doggedly insisting that the protests will hold.

    Adegboruwa, one of the lawyers for the protesters, had on July 26, 2024, written the IGP to provide police coverage for protesters.

    The IGP, in his response letter dated July 29, 2024, directed senior police officers to attend to the request of the senior lawyer.

    Egbetokun subsequently requested to meet with Adegboruwa in Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, “to deliberate further” on his request.

    However, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria opted for a virtual meeting with the police boss, enlisting Falana, members of the NBA and others to attend the meeting.

    Adegboruwa highlighted some of the points of convergence for the protests as Eagle Square, Abuja; Alausa Park, Lagos; Akpakpava Lane, Benin City; School of Agric, Bauchi; Rosewale Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan; Maiduguri Roundabout, opposite State Stadium, Damaturu, Yobe State; Rainbow Roundabout and Pantani Stadium, River and Freedom Park, Osogbo.

    In his speech at Tuesday’s meeting, Egbetokun said some persons calling for violence during the forthcoming protests have been arrested.

    He warned against street processions which he said could be hijacked by fifth columnists and enemies of the state.

    “Confining peaceful protesters to particular locations will help us a lot,” the IGP said, sounding the alarm that terror elements are looking to infiltrate crowds to wreak havoc.

    After the IGP’s proposal, Adegboruwa said there would be street processions before protesters converged at specific locations sent to the police.

    “Our letter to the Inspector General of Police indicates that there will be processions that will be guided to achieve peace during the protests,” he said, noting that leaders will also make speeches on the days of the protest.

    Also, Adegboruwa said the attention of the police should be focused on thugs and groups threatening fire and brimstone. He said the organisers cannot give a specific number of people who would participate in the protests as Nigerians have been invited to join the rallies.

    The senior lawyer assured the IGP that the organisers are not destructive.

    Egbetokun subsequently said the police would provide security cover for protesters at confined locations sent to the Force Headquarters.

    “I will not be able to guarantee security for your members if you embark on street processions,” the IGP said. “I believe that a peaceful protest in a confined location will be safe”.

    The police boss quickly added that if Commissioners of Police in states across the Federation have enough manpower, they could deploy their men to guard protesters during street processions.

    He advised the organisers to contact police top brass in their various locations to notify them of their requests for security cover during street processions and confined protests.

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