Headlines

Shehu Atiku Abubakar, the son of the former Vice President and current opositon leader, Atiku Abubakar was spotted among the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters in Lagos, adding a high-profile presence to the movement.

The #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest gained widespread attention and momentum through online campaigns, sparking concern among Nigerian authorities who feared a potential escalation into violence, similar to the recent protests in Kenya that forced the government to withdraw newly introduced taxes.

Lagos residents turned out in large numbers to protest what they describe as “bad governance,” with demonstrations taking place at Ojota, Ikeja Underbridge and Lekki despite stern warnings from government officials and a heavy police presence, particularly at the Lekki Tollgate.

While major roads, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, were largely deserted earlier in the day, Ojota became the epicentre of the Lagos protests.

The government had designated Ojota as the official protest site, prompting many demonstrators to walk from Ikeja Underbridge to the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota.

Reports from social media platforms indicate that the police have been actively discouraging protests in other parts of Lagos, including Badagry, where officers reportedly told demonstrators to relocate to Ojota or face consequences.

One user shared their experience, stating, “We were peacefully protesting in Badagry when the police interrupted us, demanding we go to Ojota if we want to protest. They also threatened to deal with us if we refused to leave”

In a dramatic turn, a protester was seen undressing as a symbolic act to draw attention to the dire situation many Nigerians face. The protest at Ojota has also seen confrontations between demonstrators and counter-protesters, leading to tense scenes as both sides clash over the future direction of the country.

The impact of the protests is being felt across Lagos, with many shops shuttered in anticipation of unrest. Traders who managed to open their stalls reported little to no foot traffic, reflecting the widespread disruption caused by the ongoing demonstrations.

A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Dutsinma Local Government Area by the Katsina State Government.

According to a statement issued on Thursday in Katsina by Alhaji Abdullahi Garba-Faskari, the secretary to the state government, the decision was made to address the current security situation in the area.

According to him, the government under the acting governor, Malam Faruq Jobe, has also banned unusual gatherings and all types of protests across the state.

He explained further that the decision followed an emergency State Security Council meeting convened on the report of breakdown of law and order in some parts of the state as a result of the nationwide protest.

“The acting governor had earlier received a group of Civil Society Organizations who were on a peaceful demonstration at the Government House and pledged to deliver their messages to the appropriate authority.

“However, later government received reports that some miscreants had hijacked the protest and unleashed their ulterior motives of shopbreaking, looting, and vandalisation of public and private properties.

“Therefore, the government found it necessary to impose these measures to safeguard people’s lives and properties in the state,” he said.

According to him, people are therefore warned to remain calm and law-abiding, as the security agencies have been directed to arrest any individual or group of persons for violating the orders.

He said that the acting governor has appealed to the people in the state to continue with their legitimate activities within the free movement period.

Kastina becomes the fourth state to declare a curfew since the start of the protest. Other states which imposed

As the #endbadgovernance Protest continues, police has reportedly attacked Abuja based lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, human right activist, VeryDarkMan other other peaceful protesters in Abuja

In a video shared by Saharareporters, the protesters could be seen scammering for safety.

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J.K. Rowling has condemned the Olympics for allowing Algeria’s Imane Khelif, a biological male to compete in the women’s boxing competition at the Paris 2024 games. Khelif was disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships after she failed a gender eligibility test due to elevated levels of testosterone in her system.

At the Paris Olympics, Khelif’s boxing match against Italy’s Angela Carini ended in 46 seconds after Carini decided to bow out of the fight after taking some punches from Khelif.

Carini fought back tears as she ended the match and later told the BBC: “It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment.”

The Harry Potter author shared a picture on X(twitter), of Carini in tears and Khelif trying to comfort her after the match was cut short, and wrote: “Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better?” Rowling wrote on X while sharing. “The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.”

Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX and Chairman of Tesla also slammed the Olympics for allowing Khelif a biological male to compete in the women boxing category.

Musk shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.”

Carini told press that she would not criticize Khelif’s placement in the women’s competition, saying: “I wish her to carry on until the end and that she can be happy. I am someone who doesn’t judge anyone. I am not here to give judgements.”

At least six people have been reportedly killed while some sustained injuries in the ongoing protest in Suleja, Niger State.

The victims were said to have killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted barricade on a section of Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Daily Trust had reported how passengers and motorists were trapped on the road for hours.

Some policemen who were around the barricade could not control the youths who outnumbered them.

However, a reinforcement team was sent to the scene where pandemonium occurred.

Among those killed was said to be Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was hit by a stray bullet.

The bullet reportedly hit Isa on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division where protesters had assembled.

A nephew of the deceased told Daily Trust that his uncle was on his bike when the bullet fired to disperse the protesters hit him on his chest and he died on the spot.

He was my uncle. He was not even protesting. He was passing in front of the Police ‘A’ division where some people were protesting when stray Bullet hit him on his chest and he died. As I speak with you, I am in his house alongside other mourners. It’s unfortunate”, he said.

Another victim was simply identified as Mallam Abu also said died on the spot.

One of the residents who did not want his name mentioned told Daily Trust that 3 other people were shot at the same scene while 2 others were shot at the Suleja Junction on Abuja-Kaduna road but could not confirm if other victims were dead.

Another resident who said his shop was not far from the Suleja Police “A” division said he had to close to run for his life.

“We heard people shouting and gunshots were heard for about 20 minutes at Emir Roundabout. The situation in Suleja is ugly”, Bala Abdullahi, another resident.

Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said some hoodlums also attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze but they were dispersed by security operatives.

“The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, they were dispersed by the Police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate was cleared”, he said.

A woman can be pictured protesting with an empty pot at Kudirat Abiola way, Ikeja, Lagos as Nigerians across the country have taken to the streets to protest against hunger and bad governance in the country.

The lady told reporters that she brought the empty pot to depict the level of hunger and starvation in the country.

The protest which gained momentum on social media with the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria has seen positive turn up from Nigerians across the 36 states of the federationa and Abuja.

The protesters have come up with various demands and solutions to fixing the rot in the country. Their demands include:

1. Reverse Fuel price to May 29. 2023 price of N190.
2. Reverse Electricity tariff to May 29 2023 rate of N60.
3. All elected and appointed officials should be on same minimum wage as civil servants.
4. Criminalize the use of brutal force on citizens by security agents.
5. Stop the direct and indirect funding of first lady’s office, among others.

The protesters have called on security operatives to corporate with them as they are fighting for a better Nigeria.

The ongoing nationwide hardship protest in Kano has turned violent as hoodlums hijack the exercise to loot shops and offices.

Leading reporters gathered that the hoodlums have started attacking shops and offices engaging in all sorts of mob action across streets.

The looters were seen moving valuables, including chairs, computers and other valuables.

Pandemonium broke out on Thursday in Bulunkutu area of Maiduguri when an immigration officer accidentally shot himself thrice on the foot while blocking protesters.

The sound of the gunshots further provoked the protesters who went wild with the thought that one of them was shot but became calm on discovering that it was an immigration personnel that was shot.

LEADING REPORTERS gathered that joint patrol team of the police, military, immigration, DSS, Civil Defence barricaded the Bulumkutu Railway Junction to prevent the hardship protesters from heading to the main city of Maiduguri.

The self-wounded officer was part of the security team deployed to disperse crowd of protesters in the state capital, Maiduguri.

The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment and his condition is currently unknown.

Some protesters were demonstrating against the government’s handling of the ongoing insurgency in the region, while others were calling for end to corruption, high cost of living and other issues bedeviling the country.

Protesters have set the gatehouse of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Kano State ablaze.

The development was disclosed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, via his official X account.

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