Anti-Government Protest: Hundreds Of People Gather In Lagos, Abuja

Hundreds of protesters under the aegis of the #I Stand With Nigeria group, have gathered in Abuja and Lagos to protest what they call “unfavourable government policies”.

Leading the Abuja rally, Co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign (BBOG), Mrs Aisha Yusuf, said the protest is meant for Nigerians to express their anger over the hardship being faced by them.

Meanwhile in Lagos, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, was among those who led the protest.

He queried some of the President’s action so far, pointing out that it’s wrong for the government to make important policy statements mostly from outside the country.

He believes that such acts undermine the people of Nigeria, while demanding urgent attention in addressing the issues of poverty and hunger.

The protest also took place simultaneously in Enugu and Port Harcourt, among other major cities in the country.

In Edo state, some youths also gathered as a way of also lending their voices to the on-going demonstration.

They were seen carrying banners and placards, with inscriptions such as “there is hunger in the land and we want youth leaders”.

This would be the first of such protests since Buhari became President in May 2015.

Groups have insisted on going ahead with the protest despite the fact that singer, Tu-face Idibia, who started the movement, decided to call it off after security reports revealed that hoodlums had planned to hijack the peaceful procession.