Miscreants Threaten To Deal With Pro-Hunger Protesters In Lagos

Some suspected miscreants have warned Lagos State residents against participating in the planned hunger protest from Thursday, August 1 to Saturday, August 10.

In a viral video clip on Tuesday, individuals, whose voices were only heard, admonished market men and women in a Lagos market to refrain from joining the planned protest, warning it could lead to more destruction than the #EndSARS protest.

“Anyone who feels brave should come out on Thursday to protest. Are you the only one who is hungry? If you dare come out for the protest, you will be dealt with mercilessly.

“If your shops get burned, who will be responsible? On Thursday, if you truly believe in your cause, come out and protest. You are not the only ones who are hungry; we don’t want things destroyed in Lagos. We will not allow it,” the voices in the video cautioned.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has called on all groups planning to join the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.

He mentioned that this is to ensure the protest remains peaceful. Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest. However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide the necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.”

Additionally, the Federal Government has stated that there is no longer a need for the planned nationwide hunger protests scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024.

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris addressed this while speaking to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

Idris noted that the government is already addressing some of the demands made by aggrieved Nigerians and is working to ensure food availability.

Besides the Federal Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria, politicians, and other notable figures have urged youths across the country to cancel the planned protest, despite its continuation in some areas and fears it could be hijacked by individuals with malicious intentions.

The protest, which has gained traction on social media, has been endorsed by presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi.