Angry Nigerians block roads in Ibadan, protest hunger, hardship

The protest began in Ibadan’s Mokola area, and the protesters, mostly youths, barricaded the Mokola under-bridge and the Queen Elizabeth Road.

Residents of Ibadan in Oyo State on Monday morning blocked major roads to protest against the economic hardship caused by the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The protest began in Ibadan’s Mokola area, and the protesters, mostly youths, barricaded the Mokola under-bridge and the Queen Elizabeth Road.

This led to traffic congestion in some parts of the city.

The protesters could be heard chanting: ‘Tinubu Ole (Tinubu is a thief),’ ‘E bi n pawa (We’re hungry),’ as they moved on the road.

Some of the placards have inscriptions such as ‘Open Boarder, End Hardship’, ‘End food hike and inflation’, ‘The poor are starving’, and ‘Tinubu, don’t forget your promises’, amongst others.

Armed police officers were seen at the protest location to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Earlier this month, SaharaReporters reported how similar protests were held in Minna and Suleja, the commercial nerve centres of Niger State.

The angry protesters called on President Tinubu’s government to end the hardship and unbearable inflation in the country.

They also lamented the hikes in the prices of gas and fuel in the country.

The protesters chanted protest songs, while security agents including policemen looked on.

However, Yakubu Garba, Deputy Governor of Niger State, said the government was aware of the pain and hardship facing families in the country.

Yakubu told the protesters that the government was working towards reducing the cost of living and the economic implications of the petrol subsidy removal.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had also declared a two-day nationwide mass protest slated for February 27 and 28 over the biting hardship in the country.