The “End Bad Governance Protest” in Nigeria has continued on day three with an arrest of a freelance journalist, Ayoola Babalola, alongside an unconfirmed number of protesters by security operatives in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday.
The protesters who are seeking an “End to Bad Governance” and economic hardship in the country trooped to the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on the third day of the nationwide protests which began Thursday, The Punch reports.
A few moments after security operatives suspected to be men of the Department of State Services shot at protesters and journalists at the stadium, Babalola posted his arrest on WhatsApp status on Saturday afternoon.
According to a journalist and others from other media houses, who narrowly escaped gunshots fired by the operatives, they were able to escape in a car belonging to a Premium Times journalist which has bullet holes after it was shot several times.
Narrating his ordeal, Babalola, a former Peoples Gazette reporter, posted on his WhatsApp status, noting that he was apprehended alongside six others, including one Samuel Victor.
In his words, “I’ve been arrested, comrades. I’m being held at Wuye Police Station. We are standing our ground and not releasing our devices,”
“They are taking our phones and taking us to the cell now,” he added in a message sent to our correspondent around 2pm.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, when contacted, said she was making efforts to get Babalola and others released.
Speaking to The Punch, she said, “I’m only aware of two of them, not seven, and I’m making efforts on their release. I’m looking for the journalist, Ayoola (Babalola).”
While calling for the reversal of fuel subsidy removal and the skyrocketing price of goods and services in the country, protesters have continued to hit the streets in Lagos, Oyo, Abuja and other states.
So far, the ‘End Hunger’ protest has, however, been marred with reported lootings by hoodlums in Kano and other northern regions with the police going after the culprits to recover some items.
In response to the yearnings of the protesters, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, who spoke with Channels TV. said the Lagos State Government has urged the protesters to go home noting that their voices have been heard “loud and clear.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday criticised President Bola Tinubu for not addressing the nation amid the nationwide protests.
The opposition party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, urged Tinubu to break his silence, address the nation immediately, and reassure citizens of the pressing issues affecting them.
