On Saturday, thousands of Nigerians took to the streets in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Akure, Ondo State, for a one-million-man march marking the 10th day of nationwide protests against hunger, hardship, and poor governance under President Bola Tinubu.
In both cities, protesters carried placards and sang solidarity songs to voice their discontent with economic difficulties and the widespread arrests of peaceful demonstrators by the Tinubu administration. Earlier, images from Abuja showed Nigerians holding banners and placards with messages such as “End Bad Governance in Nigeria” and “Nigerians are tired of bad leaders.”
The nationwide protest, which has lasted for 10 days, is aimed at highlighting the hardships caused by President Tinubu’s economic policies. Although the protest began peacefully, it turned violent in the capital as police and security forces cracked down on demonstrators and journalists.
Reports that hundreds of protesters were arrested at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on the third day of the #EndBadGovernance protest. The peaceful assembly was disrupted by police using tear gas on Saturday morning.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, confirmed the violent response by police, including the reported killing of a teenager in Kubwa, a suburb of the federal capital. Despite the crackdown, protesters continued their march to Eagles Square on the first day, though some were met with tear gas from the police.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which address issues such as inflation and the rising cost of living, have persisted despite government claims that they are sponsored, with no evidence provided to support this.