Thousands of commuters and motorists yesterday stranded across towns and cities in Ogun State as #EndSARS protesters grounded movement and commercial activities in the State.
From Abeokuta to Ijebu – Ode, Sagamu, Sango – Ota, and Mowe, the sweeping protests halted vehicular movement, leaving road users stranded.
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All major entry roads into Abeokuta, the state capital, were closed against the users, for about 12 hours that the protest lasted.
In Abeokuta, the protesters laid siege at strategic locations including NNPC junction, Panseke, Ibara – under bridge and Camp junction along Obantoko in the state capital.
As early as 6am, the demonstrators defied early downpour and gathered at the locations in further protest against police brutality and bad governance.
Private security guards and bouncers manned the blockades at the various protest locations, while a handful of the operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were also sighted.
,However, Police officers were conspicuously missing at the locations.
At NNPC junction leading the state and federal secretariats, Kuto and Abiola way, the protesters in hundreds armed with Nigerian flags and placards with various inscriptions, demanded for a “New Nigeria.”
Sweating and shouting, the protesters intermittently declared, “No to police brutality.”
Addressing the protesters, a lawyer and activist, Kayode Akinsola, said the protest would continue until the government met their demands.
According to him, the youths were displeased with the way the country was being run and thereby demanding a better governance.
He bemoaned insecurity, poor infrastructure and joblessness, saying “graduating with a first class degree does not guarantee an employment in Nigeria.”
Akinsola warned police and other security agencies against using force to disperse the protesters, insisting that the demonstration would continue to be peaceful and non violent.
“If any police officer arrests you (protesters) today, they will be starting what they can’t finish,” he declared.
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