By Martin Paul, Abuja and Dan Amasingha, Minna

In what looked as a twist, hoodlums in major cities of the nation have begun attacks against #EndSARS protesters across the country, calling on them to stop protesting since the outfit has been disbanded.

DAILY ASSET learnt yesterday that thousands of #EndSARS protesters, who defiled government promise to implement their demands, were halled with stones and sticks in contrast to their aims and objectives.

Report at our disposal showed that hoodlums stormed Lagos Government House, Alausa and attacked #EndSARS protesters, chasing them away from scene of protest.

Armed with clubs and cutlasses, the hoodlums were also reported to have stormed the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to disrupt the peaceful protests.

Sanwo-Olu Condemns Attack on #EndSARS Protesters

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu strongly condemned the attack on #EndSARS protesters by armed and unscrupulous elements, saying they were trying to cause chaos in the state.

Sanwo-Olu who tweeted yesterday stated that his government “will never tolerate the attack on peaceful protesters and will make sure security agents protect the protesters from miscreants.

“I strongly condemn the attack of peaceful protesters by armed and unscrupulous elements trying to cause chaos in Alausa today.

“My government will never tolerate the attack of protesters. Security agents will immediately protect peaceful protesters from miscreants”, he said.

Ebonyi Govt House Besieged

However, the #EndSARS protests continued in Ebonyi state, with protesters blocking the Old Government House in Abakaliki for several hours.

The Old Government House is located in the heart of the city and is the official residence and office of the state’s deputy governor.

It also houses offices of some top government officials, including the secretary to the state government and many other commissioners.

The protesters had initially gathered in front of the Abakaliki township stadium from where they preceded to the Government House.

They were buoyed by the appearance of popular Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, at the protest.

This caused serious traffic gridlock on the ever busy Ogoja road.

When they arrived the gate of the Government House, they demanded to see the governor or the deputy governor.

They were, however, told that the governor, David Umahi, was in Abuja while the deputy, Kelechi Igwe, was also out of town.

This angered the protesters who proceeded to block the road for more than two hours.

…Hold Down National Assembly

In Abuja, protesters numbering over one thousand stormed the National Assembly for several hours, calling  for the end of Police brutality in the country.

Addressing the crowd, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, asked those protesting against the actions of SARS to go home and allow the Federal Government to quickly and expeditiously implement the demands.

Lawan said it had “become very imperative for the protesters to put an end to their actions since the federal government has proscribed the dreaded SARS.

 “Nigerians have the right to peaceful demonstration when they feel very strongly about issues. They can do so to call the attention of the leaders of this country for the appropriate actions to be taken.

“Government has responded, SARS has been disbanded. All the five demands of the protesters have been accepted. Since such demands have been accepted, then we should expedite action to actualise them.

“I believe that when protesters’ demands are met, their goals should have been achieved.

“Therefore, there’s need for our compatriots to go back home and give government the chance to quickly and expeditiously implement those demands.

Hoodlums Disrupta CNG Peaceful Protest in Kano

In a related development, the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) peaceful protest on the spate of insecurity in the north, was also attacked and disrupted by hoodlums.

A coalition drawn from the 19 Northern states, yesterday commenced a peaceful protest against the spate of insecurity and level of poverty ravaging the region which they described as ” gradually bleeding to death”.

The youths with different placards and banners, besieged the popular city gate roundabout from 11am singing solidarity songs to draw attention to the plight of the north.

Among their grievances was the worsening state of insecurity in the North and the deplorable  federal road network in Niger state and the elliptic power supply currently been experience by customers in the state.

DAILY ASSET correspondent who monitored the protest observed that, plain cloth security operatives provided cover for the protesting youths. 

However, when the protesters discovered that they were not attracting the desired attention, they decided to walk the over 1000 metres distance from the city gate to the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat by Abdulsalami Abubakar Youth Centre to protest.

Comrade Mohammed Mohammed who is the North Central coordinator of the Coalition,  told journalists that the North had been bedevilled by insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and rape, vices he said the federal government was not tackling with the desired seriousness. 

“Time has come for the Nigerian state to rise up and do the needful before the country slide into chaos”, he said.

On in the deplorable road network in Niger state, the CNG coordinator pointed out despite having the longest federal road network in the country, there is hardly  any road entering or exiting Niger state that is currently passable due to there deplorable condition. 

” our people are dying daily yet we have leader that are insensitive to their plights, we have three hydro dams functioning with another on its way, but hardly do any part of Minna enjoy two hours of power supply 

” Business that were leaping before now are now dead due lack of power supply yet we pride ourselves as power state, enough is enough “

He vowed that the mother of all protest will be stage on Saturday the 17th of October as what they were doing is simply to sanitize the populace ahead of the mega march planned for this weekend. 

Responding, Secretary  of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade  Abu Nmodu, who received them on behalf of the council chairman, Comrade Abdul idris, thank them for conducting themselves orderly and peacefully and assured them that the media would always be for the Nigerian masses.

Meanwhile, some allegedly sponsored hoodlums disrupted the

#EndInsecurityNow peaceful protest organized by the CNG in Kano.

Convener of the protest in Kano, Dr Muhammad Bello Nawaila, who spoke with newsmen said 40 of its members sustained injuries from the attack by the hoodlums, who disrupted the protest some 500m from take-off point in Kabuga area of the state.

Nawaila said the protest was expected to kick-start at Kabuga and terminate in Gidan Murtala before the hoodlums disrupted the protest, which was accompanied by four security patrol vehicles.

 “We were supposed to have a peaceful protest from Kabuga and terminate in Gidan Murtala. “After about 500 meters, some hoodlums approached us as if they were in support and were trying to give us pure water.

“From nowhere, we saw cutlass and about 40 of our members were injured. They disperse us. They created a chaotic situation.

“What surprised us was that in the movement, we got security backing, two patrol vehicles of the police were at the front and two at the back.

“But in the process of the attack by the hoodlums, we could not find the security operatives. It was after we have been injured that the police resurfaced.

“Recall, before now that our leader, Nastura Ashir Sharif, was abducted for convening a peaceful protest on the same issue sometimes back in Katsina.

“We would continue with the protest until President Muhammadu Buhari listen to our calls. If within three days, the #EndSARS protest can lead to SARs ending, we would continue until President Buhari takes a bold step and keeps Nigeria safe,” Nawaila stated.

The injured victims were said to have been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

When contacted the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, did not respond to his calls.

Army Warns Against Anti-democratic Acts

The Nigerian Army has directed all its officers and soldiers, never to be distracted by those it called ‘anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity’.

A statement signed by Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, titled: “Nigerian Army Remains Resolute to the Peace and Stability of the Nation”, reads: “The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to reassure law-abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria.

“As a responsible and law-abiding organisation, the Nigerian Army reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the Country.

“The NA hereby warns all subversive elements and trouble makers to desist from such acts as it remains highly committed to defend the country and her democracy at all cost.

“The NA is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively.

“All officers and men are directed never to be distracted by anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity.”