Osun protesters withdraw, military foils Niger market attack

After six days of holding a protest march across Osogbo, the  Osun State capital, the leadership of the Concerned Nigerian Citizens, EndBadGovernance, on Tuesday, announced the suspension of further demonstration.

The state Coordinator of the group, Adetunji Ajala, told journalists in Osogbo that the decision was taken in consideration of the upcoming Osun-Osogbo festival, expected to attract a lot of visitors and tourists.

Ajala said the decision became imperative to prevent hoodlums from infiltrating the protesters and unleashing mayhem.

“Since the inception of this peaceful protest, we have made our demands clear, seeking immediate action from our leaders to address the pressing issues affecting the citizens of our beloved state and country. We acknowledge the recent address by the President of Nigeria; however, we express our profound disappointment as the President’s speech failed to address any of our specific demands.

“Despite this setback, today we successfully presented our demands to the Governor of Osun State through the deputy governor and Secretary to the State Government, who told us that the governor would forward our demands to the Federal Executive Council. Furthermore, we reviewed the security situation vis-a- vis the Osun Osogbo festival presently ongoing in Osogbo. It is worthy of note to establish that the protest is incidentally taking place in Osogbo, which is of concern.

“Considering the safety of the tourists coming for the global Osun Osogbo festival and the possibility of hoodlums disguising themselves as tourists to unleash attacks on peaceful protesters amidst other security concerns, we consider it imperative to put the protest on hold today 6th August 2024,” Ajala said.

Meanwhile, protesters in Niger State who attempted to invade the Suleja Modern Market over the alleged killing of six protesters on August 1 were stopped in their tracks by soldiers detailed to prevent violence and vandalism.

The protesters, on Monday, attempted to invade the market and unleash terror on the marketers to avenge the killing of their colleagues but met stiff resistance by soldiers.

The protesters came in their hundreds and gathered at the Suleja Junction, along the busy Kaduna-Suleja-Abuja highway, with the determination to invade the biggest market in the state, when security agents, mainly soldiers, quickly mobilised to the area and dispersed them.

The nationwide hunger protest turned bloody on the first day when six people were allegedly killed and several others injured.

The According learnt that the Monday protest was informed by the killing of the six protesters which the protesters vowed to avenge their deaths.