Protesters in Rivers State did not take to the streets on Saturday, as planned, to mark the conclusion of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria demonstrations. Organizers had intended for the day to feature a massive one-million-man march to cap off ten days of protest against economic hardship. However, concerns over potential violence and the hijacking of the protest by hoodlums kept demonstrators off the streets for the third consecutive day.
The Rivers State Police Command had increased its presence across strategic locations in Port Harcourt, conducting a show of force on Saturday morning. This followed an incident earlier in the week when anti-protesters disrupted a gathering outside the federal secretariat on Aba Road, leading to a police intervention that resulted in the arrest of three individuals.
The police had warned that any protest outside the designated areas of Isaac Boro Park and Pleasure Park would lead to arrests, and on Saturday, units of police officers patrolled major areas in the city to ensure compliance.
Gogo Wellington, one of the protest organizers, explained that fears of violence had kept protesters from showing up in recent days. He urged the Federal Government to address the demands of the protesters to prevent further agitation, emphasizing the growing frustration among Nigerians over economic hardship and government spending on frivolous items. Wellington warned that continued government inaction could provoke a stronger response from the public.
News Editor