By Sodiq Adelakun
Hoodlums on Sunday morning chased away #EndBadGovernance protesters who had gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in the Ojota area of Lagos State, disrupting the fourth day of the nationwide protests against hunger and economic hardship.
The protesters had complied with the police directive to remain within the designated protest ground, but a group of hoodlums arrived and dispersed them.
The police subsequently occupied the protest ground.
“We were peacefully protesting when the hoodlums arrived and chased us away,
“We will not be intimidated and will continue to demand good governance and an end to economic hardship,” said Adegboyega Adeniji, a 70-year-old protester.
The protests, which entered their fourth day on Sunday, have been marked by clashes between protesters and security agents, with the police using tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Civil society organisations have condemned the police action as an infringement on the rights of citizens to peaceful protest.
President Bola Tinubu had addressed the nation on Sunday morning, but the protesters said he failed to address the core issues they had raised.
“The President’s speech was a pack of empty words and a load of irrelevancies,” said Inibehe Effiong, a protester. “We will continue to demand action and not just words.”
The protests are expected to continue today, with the organisers vowing to press on despite the challenges.
“We will not be silenced or intimidated,” said JP, a lawyer and protester.