ROUGH details of Nigerians who paid the ultimate price of the avoidable hunger protests instigated by President Bola Amhed Tinubu’s primitive economic policies emerged revealing that over over twenty deaths were recorded across the country. Six were reportedly killed by the police in Niger State, four in Maiduguri, two in Kaduna, two in Sokoto, two in katsina, one in Abuja, one in kano and the remaining ten deaths occured in an unidentified locations at the time of filing this report.
Earlier yesterday, reports emerged of widespread attacks on peaceful protesters by police, military, and other security agencies across the country, the results are the carnage and savage brutality of the security agencies who failed to protect protesters in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution, instead choose banal part, shooting protesters point blank.
An eye witness account revealed to Trojan News Media Correspondent in Minna, Niger State capital that security personnel were seen shooting directly into the crowd of harmless protesters who were only armed with placards.
“Security personnel who could not challenge Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS and kidnappers across the swathes of the porous borders are the ones terrorising hapless and unarmed protesters in order to be seen to be working and pleasing to the god of Aso Rock.”
“Our major demands that prompted this hunger protests are clear, immediate action should be taken to halt economic hardship in Nigeria”. We’re demanding for immediate action from the government to address the economic hardship and food crisis in the country.”
“A cut in electricity, petrol pump, and food prices. This demand and a cut in electricity, petrol pump, and food prices will reduce the cost of living amongst long suffering citizens.”
“We’re demanding for the introduction of free education to reduce the financial burden on students and their families as national minimum wage bill just passed into law of NGN70,000 thousand Naira can’t buy a bag of rice.”
“In the same token, we’re demanding for good governance and an end to bad governance, which we believe is responsible for the economic hardship and food crisis in the country.”
“We’re seeking and demanding for justice and constitutional reforms to address the issues of corruption, inequality, and social injustice in the country.”
“We demand an end to anti-poor policies, which we believe have contributed to the economic hardship and food crisis in the country”.
“We’re demanding that the government address the crisis of hunger and the high cost of food, which has become a major issue in the country”.
“Ultimately we’re demanding that the government reduces fuel prices, which have tripled in the past one year, to reduce the cost of living and ease transportation burden because those who managed to secure jobs can’t afford the fair”. Malam Yusuf Idris said “its easier to fix the country with measures suggested above, than to release six billion naira NGN6 billion to anti-hunger protesters to protest against genuine protesters in the interest of peace and harmony.
Addressing the issues around the hunger protests across the country in Benin City, Comrade Abraham Oviawe Esqr, harps on the needs for the security agencies to be law abiding.
“The government must respect and protect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and protest, as enshrined in Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended). The use of force against unarmed protesters is unacceptable and undermines democratic principles.
“We call on the authorities to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens and address their grievances through dialogue and peaceful means.”
Just this morning, amidst ongoing nationwide protests, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has reportedly put the country’s 19.1-year-old VIP-configured Boeing 737-700 (BBJ) up for sale. The aircraft, registered as 5N-FGT, was recently transported from Abuja to Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg in Switzerland and is now listed for an undisclosed price.
The sale of the presidential jet comes at a time of heightened public discontent and protests across Nigeria over government’s insensitivity and profligacy. The demonstrations mirroring unprecedented inflation resulting from fuel subsidy removal has blighted and ignited economic hardship, coupled with Tinubu’s administration inability to listen and address the crisis.
Erasmus Ikhide contributed this piece via: ikhideluckyerasmus@gmail.com
