S afe for Abuja the nation’s capital, the 37 million-man march against hunger and bad governance scheduled for yesterday around the country flopped as many Nigerians shunned the call. In the major southern cities like Oyo, Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt and the entire southern part of the country, Nigerians went about their regular activities, and unhindered. But the protest against hunger and hardship continued as some protesters converged on the MKO National Stadium, Abuja, amidst heavy presence of security operatives. The protest, which kicked off on August 1, 2024, was initiated by some civil society organizations, which demanded an end to what they described as bad governance in Nigeria.

The Take It Back Movement ( TIBM), one of the organisers of the protest, had on Friday, vowed to stage a one million man march each in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. As early as 7:00am, the protesters bearing different placards and banners had found their way into the stadium arena. Their early arrival was apparently to beat the heavy security that had kept surveillance around the protests in the last 10 days. Sunday Telegraph observed that the protesters were not comfortable with the excessive deployment of security operatives to the place. One of the protesters, Amoke Gabriel, said it was unfortunate that citizens were being prevented by the government from exercising their constitutional rights within the ambit of the law.

Gabriel noted that the government’s action was not just an intimidation but an affront to democratic principles. “How can unarmed citizens, who came out to protest maladministration of their leaders be subjected to this type of emotional and psychological torture by the people who are supposed to protect them?” A senior Police officer, who led other operatives to the stadium and didn’t want his name mentioned, said the heavy presence of security operatives was to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the protest and causing mayhem. According to him, security operatives would continue to be professional in the discharge of their official duties, so long as the protesters abide by extant laws. Armed policemen and soldiers mounted roadblocks within and outside Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) subjecting residents and passersby to untold harassment. Armed security operatives from the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Army, Department of State Service (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) took over the perimeter of the ‘Three Arms Zone’ which harboured the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly and the Supreme Court. The roads from the Police Force Headquarters, Transcorp Hilton junction, Nitel Junction and Ministry of Finance were also barricaded with Armoured Personnel Tanks, restricting both human and vehicular movements in the area. However, it was a beehive of socioeconomic activities yesterday as the residents of Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states shunned the one-millionman nationwide protests. Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the three states learnt that hordes of people were seen busy undertaking their routine public and private activities.

It was gathered that markets, motor parks, supermarkets and other economic activities were going on unfettered, oblivious of the proposed protests. Commercial motorists and motorcyclists were also seen busy conveying passengers to and from their various destinations. Security agents were also seen patrolling major streets, protecting critical state and national assets. “We have no issue with anybody as the people are going about their activities lawfully,” a security source that sought for anonymity told NAN along Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government said unverified processions were not permitted in the state for reasons of public safety and security. The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, gave the warning in a statement issued on yesterday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said: “Criminals, disguising as protesters will not get chance to unleash terror, loot properties. “The Kaduna State Security Council under the leadership of Gov. Uba Sani, has reviewed the present security situation arising from the existing 6pm to 8am curfew, and other issues pertaining to public safety. “Based on this review, the security council hereby announces that criminal elements disguising as protesters, with the intent to generate unrest in the state, will not be spared.” He said the council recognised the fundamental rights of the citizens to freedom of expression, lawful assembly and other constitutional rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended. Aruwan added that nevertheless, the security forces cannot permit a situation wherein criminals masquerade as protesters to loot and vandalise public, private properties and unleash terror on innocent citizens as experienced on August 1- 5. According to him, processions not verified and cleared by the security agencies, therefore, remained prohibited in the light of the public security considerations highlighted. “The ugly events of August 1 to 5 are clear indicators that criminals are pursuing an agenda to plunge the state into chaos, and are ready to camouflage these designs with otherwise genuine protests. “Available intelligence from the reviewed period also showed the grim focus of these forces in herding children and impressionable individuals into their dark schemes. “The consequences of these plans, if allowed to flourish, are better imagined.

The Kaduna State Government and security forces will not stand by and allow an anti-state agenda to run unchecked, ” Aruwan said. He said it was worth reiterating that criminals masquerading as protesters would not be permitted to wreak havoc. “Finally, the citizens are enjoined to continue to observe the 6pm to 8am curfew and report any incendiary activity to the Security Operations Room on: 0903 400 0060, 0817 018 9999, “Aruwan said A NAN Correspondent in Kafanchan also learnt that there was no sign of any protest as the residents went about their normal activities. However, security operatives were stationed in strategic locations in and around the town. In Zaria, people were also seen going about their normal businesses as there was no presence or any activities of the protest. There was also the presence of security person…