August 01, (THEWILL) – Hundreds of protesters, on Thursday, swarmed major roads in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, to join the nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship in the country.
The aggrieved protesters said they were out to demand action from the government to end the high cost of living and hunger.
There were, however, reports that some hoodlums attacked the #EndBadGovernance protesters around the Biogbolo axis of the Melford Okilo Road.
The protesters chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Kill corruption before corruption kills us all”, “Restore fuel subsidy and reduce the price of petroleum products now”, “We are dying of hunger in our own country”, “We are suffering so much now”, “We can no longer feed our children”, and “Give us affordable education and healthcare” among others.
The protesters, mostly youths and women, marched through the Yenagoa-Mbiama Road and the Melford Okilo Road, defying the morning showers to register their grievances.
Those who spoke to Journalists, including Philemon Patrick from Ekeremor, Bolo Tamuno from Sabagriea in Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA and Sunday Nweke, said they joined the protest to express their frustration over the unbearable high cost of living, poverty and hunger.
Checks within Yenagoa and other towns in Bayelsa by our Reporter indicate that there was heavy deployment of police and other security agents at strategic locations.
Despite a directive by the Bayelsa State Government to civil servants to go to work, only a few staff were at their duty posts at the State and Federal Secretariat Complexes with most offices scanty at the time of filing this report.
Also, many shops, private businesses and financial institutions were under lock and key with owners milling around.
Speaking, a businessman who pleaded anonymity said they were afraid of eventual attack or vandalization of their stores, hence they decided to lock their stores and remained to watch over them.
He, however, blamed the Federal Government for the hunger inflicted on citizens by excruciating economic policies, urging President Bola Tinubu to rescind most of the debilitating policies.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
