Normalcy has returned to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after a day of nationwide protests.
On Friday, commuters and citizens resumed their daily activities, and businesses reopened, following a sit-at-home order observed on the first day of the protest against hunger and bad governance.
In Abuja, a tense atmosphere prevailed as a detachment of fully armed police officers forcefully dispersed protesters around the Berger Bridge.
The demonstrators, chanting “Hunger dey oo, hunger dey ooo” (There’s hunger, there’s hunger), were met with tear gas and other dispersal tactics by the police.
Passers-by and motorists caught in the chaos criticized the police for high-handedness.
This forceful action followed an injunction from an Abuja high court confining protests to the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, had urged compliance with the court order, but protest leaders claimed they had not been officially served.
In Lagos, protesters gathered at Alausa, Ikeja, began their day with a prayer session.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended the peaceful nature of the protests in the state and called for continued calm and peace.
In a statement via the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the orderly conduct and urged sustained tranquility.
Meanwhile, Abuja remained eerily quiet on the second day of the nationwide strike.
Key locations such as the MKO Abiola Stadium and Eagle Square, previously bustling with activity, were deserted except for the presence of security forces and armoured tanks.
Troops, police, and other security personnel continued to patrol the city to prevent a repeat of the previous day’s disturbances.
In Katsina, the police imposed a 24-hour curfew on Dutsinma Local Government Area and a 7pm to 7am curfew statewide.
ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the Command spokesperson, stated that over 50 suspects were arrested for vandalizing public and private property.
He emphasized that no fatalities resulted from police actions and assured the public of the police’s commitment to maintaining public safety.
In Kaduna, the police dealt with miscreants who hijacked the protests, leading to vandalism of government and private assets.
Among those arrested was a man dressed in police camouflage and others carrying dangerous weapons.
Commissioner of Police Audu Ali Dabigi called on parents to restrain their wards from engaging in violence and assured that law enforcement would maintain order.
As the protest enters its second day, the nation reflects on a turbulent start that saw 14 people killed and curfews declared in Yobe, Kano, and Borno States. The situation remains fluid, with authorities urging peaceful conduct and adherence to the law.
