Rivers: Protesters block section of Aba Road, Port Harcourt
Police make more arrest in Sokoto
Kano Police conducts house-to-house search for looted properties
The Police in Kano have begun house-to-house search to recover properties looted by hoodlums during the protest in the state.
The protest, which started peacefully, later turned violent when it momentum.
Hoodlums wielding different weapons hijacked the protest and looted public and private facilities carting away valuables.
A resident of Gyadi-Gyadi in Tarauni council, Abba Sani, said the Police stormed the Gyadi-Gyadi area in search of looted properties.
Alarmed NLC puts death toll of protesters at 40
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has raised the alarm and expressed shock over large-scale killing of protesters by policemen.
According to NLC, “With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at over 40 in two days of managing the #EndHunger protest across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to call to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but MASSACRE of citizens.”
In a statement titled “STOP THIS MASSACRE”, the President of NLC threatened that Organised Labour might be forced to declare an industrial action to protest innocent citizens if the wanton destruction of human lives by the police continues.
The statement read in part: “Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado.
“As the lead agency in internal security management, the Police bear the burden of this massacre.
“We would be monitoring closely as the situation unfolds. The police as the lead-agency vested with power and authority on issues of internal security should not only lead by (a good) example but an inspiration to other services.
“However, if the police in self-righteousness consider this advice as meddlesomeness and persist in their slaughter, they will be unwittingly creating a situation they were supposed to help avert in the first place.
“And we as members of organised labour will be left with no choice than the moral burden to act in protection of ordinary citizens.
“We do believe the ultimate solution lies with the government, the decisions it takes, the compromises it is willing to make in the face of the genuine demands by the protesters.
“As stated in our statements of July 22nd and 23rd, the clearest path to a lasting solution is for the government to sit down with the protest leaders and negotiate in good faith.
“Time is of the essence as no one is impressed by the sophistry of government officials/hirelings or threats by the police or the military. We are all Nigerians, after all.”
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Sokoto: Police arrests 110 protesters
In continuation of the clampdown on hunger protesters, the police in Sokoto have arrested 28 additional protesters on Friday.
The public relations officer of the Sokoto Command, ASP Ahmed Rufae disclosed this while giving update to journalists in a statement made available on Saturday.
He said the miscreants were apprehended by the police at various locations in the state capital while trying to attack public utilities in the state metropolis.
According to the statement, the arrest of the 28 on Friday put the figure of the total arrests at 110 so far.
Katsina: Hoodlums looted 693 bags of fertiliser — Police
The Katsina State Police Command has disclosed that 64 hoodlums were arrested with 693 bags of fertiliser they stole from a warehouse in Dutsinma LGA.
The Command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed this to Vanguard in a telephone interview.
He said the hoodlums vandalised a fertiliser warehouse in Dutsinma township and carted away 693 bags, but were later arrested.
The nationwide protest turned violent in Dutsinma township where, earlier, the office of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was burnt down.
Abuja: ‘I’m being held at Wuye Police Station,’ freelance journalist, Babalola reaches out
Freelance journalist, Ayoola Babalola, was arrested along with several protesters by security operatives in Abuja today, Saturday.
The incident occurred as demonstrators gathered at the MKO Abiola National Stadium for the third day of nationwide protests against bad governance and economic hardship in Nigeria.
Babalola, who posted about his arrest on WhatsApp, reported being detained at Wuye Police Station and having his phone confiscated by authorities.
Speaking on a phone call with Vanguard, Babalola said: “I have been arrested. I’m being held at Wuye Police Station.
“We are standing our ground and not releasing our devices.”
Other metro journalists covering the protest earlier reported how they narrowly escaped gunshots fired by the operatives.
Also, the car belonging to a Premium Times journalist was riddled with bullets.
Lagos: Protesters queue for food in Ojota
Police block MKO Abiola Stadium with vehicles
Abuja: ‘Come and discuss with us,’ protesters tell religious leaders
The protesters in Abuja, on Saturday, invited leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria for a “heart-to-heart” talk at the protest venue.
Sydney Usman, who is with the Take-It-Back-Movement, thanked the leaders for their interventions but asked them to show up at the venue on Monday, August 4, to discuss with the protesters.
They described the leaders as their fathers, but decried attacks on the protesters by the police.
PDP slams Tinubu for failing to address Nigerians
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed President Bola Tinubu for his failure to address Nigerians despite the crippling nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja, on Saturday, the party demanded that the President immediately address Nigerians on urgent steps being taken to reduce the price of petroleum products.
It also asked the president to take steps to stem the fall of the Naira and ensure speedy provision of food among other critical issues to revamp the productive sector, stimulate employment, and restore stability in the polity.
Abuja: Security operatives disperse protesters with tear gas at Moshood Abiola Stadium
Security operatives on Saturday dispersed protesters demonstrating in front of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
They used tear gas.
Abuja: ‘We’re hungry,’ protesters chant
Photos: Protest continues on Day 3, at Ojota, Lagos State
The nationwide hardship protest enters its third day. The first two days have had several casualties and pro and anti-government protesters.
VANGUARD
