Five peaceful protesters associated with the #FearlessInOctober movement have been apprehended by Nigerian police in Jos, Plateau State. The demonstration, held on Tuesday, aimed to demand better governance in light of the increasing costs of goods and services, along with the economic hardships and unfavorable policies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Yakubu Idris, Umar Faruq Dandina, Nura Abubakar, Khalid Sulaiman, and Umar Faruk. They were taken into custody while peacefully marching to voice their concerns about economic difficulties and the alleged anti-people measures enacted by the government.
As of this report, the whereabouts of the five detained protesters remain unclear. In response, the Take-It-Back Movement has called for their immediate release. This protest was part of a broader national campaign advocating for reforms and accountability in governance.
Earlier reports from SaharaReporters indicated that Nigerian police had forcefully dispersed protesters in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, who were also demonstrating against worsening insecurity and poverty. Witnesses described how police officers, equipped for combat, were joined by suspected political thugs in their crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, preventing media personnel from documenting the events.
This heavy-handed response aligns with previous warnings issued by the state police, urging residents to refrain from activities that might disrupt the peace during the 64th Independence Day celebrations.
As protesters gathered at the popular Pleasure Park along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, police presence intensified. Despite initial attempts to protest, participants were met with force as officers, along with alleged political thugs, dispersed them and took control of the area.
Even after this disruption, the resilient protesters tried to regroup in the Rumuola area, but police intervened again, forcing them to scatter.
For updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0JP