Protests in Port Harcourt took a tense turn on Tuesday as cane-wielding thugs forcefully occupied the Rumuokwuta protest ground, preventing demonstrators from gathering for the planned ‘FearlessInOctober’ protest. The venue, which was previously used for the August #EndBadGovernance protests, had been announced as the meeting point for citizens to protest against economic hardship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Eyewitnesses report that the thugs, who claimed to oppose any form of protest in Rivers State, threatened to attack journalists attempting to capture footage of the confrontation. Their aggressive stance stifled the planned demonstration, raising concerns about freedom of expression and the right to protest in the state.
Elsewhere in the country, similar protests were successfully held in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, where demonstrators expressed frustration over the soaring cost of living. The protests mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary, with citizens demanding immediate government action to reverse the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates. Both policies have been widely blamed for escalating inflation and deepening economic hardship.
As the protests continue to gather momentum nationwide, it remains unclear whether the situation in Port Harcourt will calm down or escalate further. Demonstrators have vowed to continue their call for economic reforms that prioritize the well-being of the Nigerian populace.
