Journalist, protesters arrested in Abuja

A freelance journalist, Ayoola Babalola, was arrested alongside an unconfirmed number of protesters by security operatives in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday.

The development is coming as protesters seeking an “End to Bad Governance” and economic hardship in Nigeria trooped to the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on the third day of the nationwide protests which began Thursday.

Babalola posted his arrest on WhatsApp status on Saturday afternoon, a few moments after security operatives suspected to be men of the Department of State Services shot at protesters and journalists at the stadium.

According correspondent covering the protest earlier reported how he, alongside other journalists, narrowly escaped gunshots fired by the operatives, with the car belonging to a Premium Times journalist riddled with bullets.

“I’ve been arrested, comrades. I’m being held at Wuye Police Station. We are standing our ground and not releasing our devices,” Babalola, a former Peoples Gazette reporter, posted on his WhatsApp status, noting that he was apprehended alongside six others, including one Samuel Victor.

“They are taking our phones and taking us to the cell now,” he added in a message sent to our correspondent around 2pm.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, when contacted, said she was making efforts to get Babalola and others released.

“I’m only aware of two of them, not seven, and I’m making efforts on their release. I’m looking for the journalist, Ayoola (Babalola),” she told The According.

Protesters have continued to hit the streets in Lagos, Oyo, Abuja and other states as they call for, among others, the reversal of fuel subsidy removal and the skyrocketing price of goods and services in the country.

The ‘End Hunger’ protest has, however, been marred with reported lootings by hoodlums in Kano and other northern regions with the police going after the culprits to recover some items.

The Lagos State Government has urged the protesters to go home noting that their voices have been heard “loud and clear,” according to the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, who spoke with Channels TV.

The Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday criticised President Bola Tinubu for not addressing the nation amid the nationwide protests.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the opposition party urged Tinubu to break his silence, address the nation immediately, and reassure citizens of the pressing issues affecting them.