Ibadan Residents Protest against Economic Hardship 

There was a standstill on Monday across different parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as protesters in their hundreds defied police warning to stage peaceful demonstration.

Traffic logjams were experienced across Mokola, Adamasingba, Ekotedo, Onireke, Sango, Bodija, Agbowo and Ojoo.

Hundreds of Nigerian youth converged on the popular Mokola Roundabouts on Monday, morning amid heavy security presence to forestall breakdown of law and order.

The protesters carry placards with inscriptions bordering on the rising cost of living, escalating prices of food items, hunger in the country, economic hardship and urgent need for the government to take pragmatic steps and make food become surplus in the country.

It would be recalled that prior to the protest, the state Police Command had warned against any protests without prior notice to the police before such action was embarked upon.

The command had in a statement warned that unscrupulous elements could hijack it for criminal purposes, adding that the security agency would not allow any form of violation of public order that could lead to breach of public peace.

However defying the police warning, the protesters called on President Bola Tinubu, to immediately address the raging issues of insecurity and economic hardship, and hunger among others faced by Nigerians.

The protesters, who are mostly youths, said they are fed up with the current state of affairs in Nigeria, demanding for immediate end to the crisis from the government.

They held placards bearing different messages such as “Tinubu Must Address Insecurity” and “Hunger is Killing Us.”

The protesters also expressed concerns over high cost of living, which they said is making it difficult for people to afford basic necessities of life.

The protest came at a time when Nigeria is facing several security challenges, including kidnappings, banditry, and attacks by terrorist groups.

The protesters said food prices have also skyrocketed making it difficult for many Nigerians to feed their families.

The protesters hope that their demonstration will draw the attention of Tinubu and the government to these pressing issues, calling on the government to do more to alleviate the suffering of the people and to improve the country’s economy.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

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