On Monday, there was a standstill in several areas of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, as hundreds of protesters disregarded police orders to hold a nonviolent protest.
Mokola, Adamasingba, Ekotedo, Onireke, Sango, Bodija, Agbowo, and Ojoo all faced traffic bottlenecks.
In order to prevent a breakdown in law and order, hundreds of young people from Nigeria gathered on Monday morning at the well-known Mokola Roundabouts, where there was a strong security presence.
The demonstrators are carrying signs with messages about the nation’s hunger, economic suffering, growing costs of living, and the pressing need for the government to act decisively to create a surplus of food in the nation.
Recall that the state Police Command had issued a warning against protest without prior notice to the police before such action was embarked upon.
The command had in a statement warned that unscrupulous elements could hijack it for criminal purposes, adding that the security agency would not allow any form of violation of public order that could lead to breach of public peace.
However defying the police warning, the protesters called on President Bola Tinubu, to immediately address the raging issues of insecurity and economic hardship, and hunger among others faced by Nigerians.
The protesters, who are mostly youths, said they are fed up with the current state of affairs in Nigeria, demanding for immediate end to the crisis from the government.
They held placards bearing different messages such as “Tinubu Must Address Insecurity” and “Hunger is Killing Us.”
The protesters also expressed concerns over high cost of living, which they said is making it difficult for people to afford basic necessities of life.
The protest came at a time when Nigeria is facing several security challenges, including kidnappings, banditry, and attacks by terrorist groups.
The protesters said food prices have also skyrocketed making it difficult for many Nigerians to feed their families.
The protesters hope that their demonstration will draw the attention of Tinubu and the government to these pressing issues, calling on the government to do more to alleviate the suffering of the people and to improve the country’s economy.
