Niger youths begin hunger protest on Abuja-Kaduna Road

In anticipation of the nationwide hunger protests scheduled for August 1-10 under the hashtag #EndBadGovernment, youths in Niger State, on Monday, took to the streets to voice their discontent over the economic hardships currently facing Nigerians.

The demonstration comes just a week after Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago said Niger’s youth would refrain from street protests, insisting that the state’s youth were generally peaceful.

A group of youths from Niger State gathered to protest the rising cost of living crisis. They were seen along the Expressway in Tafa Local Government Area, holding banners that read ‘Enough is Enough,’ ‘Stop Anti-Mass Policies,’ ‘We are not slaves in our country,’ ‘Difficulties are Unbearable,’ and ‘Fuel Subsidy Must Be Reverted,’ among others.

Protesters were seen marching along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway chanting anti-government songs.

Sule Ndaji, an eyewitness, told reporters that the protest took place and noted that it was the intervention of soldiers stationed on the highway that persuaded the youths to postpone their demonstration until the officially scheduled protest date.

“I saw protesters this morning carrying placards and shouting protest songs. It was the soldiers on the highway who calmed the youths down, telling them to wait until the protest date,” Ndaji said.

Several organisations and institutions in Niger State had earlier assured that youths would not participate in the hunger protests, citing concerns that the organisers of the protests might be unknown and that the protests could be hijacked by bandits and other criminals.

Read also: FEC orders NNPC to sell crude to Dangote, other refineries in naira

In response, the governor announced relief for Nigeriens to prevent them from engaging in any protests. “We have over 100,000 metric tons of food in our reserves, of which we will release 50,000 metric tons for sale at 50% of the current price. Before the end of the year, we will cut food prices by 90%,” Bago said at a town hall meeting.

Abiodun Wasiu, spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the protest and noted that some youths were seen on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway but were eventually dispersed by law enforcement officers.

“The problem was that some boys were found around Kaduna road, and immediately, the Suleja Area Commander moved to the scene with his men and the situation was brought under control. They were immediately dispersed.

“There is no road blockade along Abuja Kaduna road. We also heard rumours that there is trouble around Madalla, but as I speak to you, there is no trouble, there is no trouble in Madalla.

“However, the Regional Commander is showing strength and monitoring the situation in Suleja and its environs. As I speak to you, the area is calm, and people should continue with their legitimate business activities,” Wasiu said.

The post Niger Youths Begin Hunger Protest on Abuja-Kaduna Road appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.