Niger youths begin hunger protest on Abuja-Kaduna Road

In anticipation of the nationwide hunger protest scheduled for August 1 to 10 under the hashtag #EndBadGovernment, some youths in Niger State, on Monday, took to the streets to voice their discontent with the current economic hardships facing Nigerians.
This demonstration comes just a week after Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago declared that Niger youths would refrain from street protests, asserting that the state’s youth are generally peace-loving.
A group of youths from Niger State assembled to protest the escalating cost of living crisis. They were spotted along the Expressway in Tafa Local Government Area, holding signs that read ‘Enough is Enough,’ ‘Stop Anti-Masses Policies,’ ‘We Are Not Slaves In Our Country,’ ‘Hardship Is Unbearable,’ and ‘Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back,’ among others.
The protesters were observed marching along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, chanting anti-government songs.
Sule Ndaji, an eyewitness, told reporters that the protest occurred 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 the protesters early this morning carrying placards and chanting protest songs. It was the soldiers on the Expressway that calmed the youths, telling them to wait until the date of the protest,” Ndaji said.
Several organizations and agencies in Niger State had previously assured that the youths would not participate in the hunger protest, citing concerns that the organizers might be faceless and that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums and other miscreants.
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In response, the governor announced palliatives for Niger residents to prevent involvement in any protests. “We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves, out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50% of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90%,” Bago declared at a town hall meeting.
Abiodun Wasiu, spokesman for 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 issue is that some few boys were discovered around Kaduna road, and immediately, Area Commander Suleja moved to the scene with his men and the situation was brought under control. They were dispersed immediately.
“There was no blockade of the road along Abuja Kaduna road. We also heard rumours that there was an issue around Madalla, but as I’m speaking with you, there was no issue, there was no problem in Madalla.
“However, the Area Commander is on a show of force and monitoring the situation within Suleja and its environs. As I speak with you, the area is calm, and people should continue their lawful businesses,” Wasiu stated.
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