Friday marked the second day of the nationwide hunger protest, during which a potential clash between protesting youths and the counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria Police Force was averted in Rivers State.
The incident unfolded when the counter-terrorism unit officers were conducting a show of force on Aba Road and encountered the protesters at Pleasure Park in Port Harcourt.
Amidst tensions, the armed operatives instructed the youths to clear the road for them, but the protesters defiantly refused, questioning the history of police brutality with chants like ‘No! No! How many people will the police kill?”
As the situation escalated towards a clash, protest leaders intervened, urging the youths to peacefully clear the road, restoring calm.
Following the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, rushed to the scene to address the protesters, appealing to them not to block the roads.
Disu commended the peaceful conduct of the protesters and emphasized the importance of demonstrating peacefully without disrupting public peace or infringing on the rights of others.
He pleaded with the protesters not to obstruct the roads, ensuring that as long as they remained peaceful, no intimidation or harassment would occur.
In response, a protester reiterated their commitment to peaceful protest, highlighting their grievances against the government’s management and policies, calling for action to ease the burden on the citizens.
Expressing concerns about the prevailing hunger, poverty, and high living costs, the protester demanded governmental intervention in critical areas like fuel subsidy and electricity tariffs, expressing disillusionment with the current administration.