ASABA RELATIVELY CALM AS NATIONWIDE HUNGER PROTEST BEGINS

The much expected 10-day nationwide hunger protest began on Thursday, August 1, with the situation in Asaba relatively calm 

According to our reporter who monitored the situation, a few placard-carrying protesters converged on Inter-Bau roundabout around 9am, chanting solidarity song, from where they proceeded to the FMC roundabout and were on their way to Government House, through the old Anwai road, when they were stopped by the police at the Temple Clinic junction.

They retreated to the Inter-Bau roundabout, where they were addressed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations at the State Police Command headquarters, AC George Efeizomor, and urged to go home, but in a twist of event, they insisted on going ahead with the protest and were forcefully dispersed with tear gas.

Generally, vehicular traffic in the capital city was light and only a few persons found on the streets.

The ever-busy Koka junction, which was supposed to be the rallying point for the protest, was calm with a noticeable presence of security operatives.

The banks did not operate, even as the Ogheogonogo market was in session, while the Kwale park, which used to be very busy on a normal day, was under lock and key.

Eateries, shops on the streets and plazas were all locked up as residents waited to monitor the situation before making decisions on the next step to take.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), had set up Committees to monitor the protest, with its Human Rights Committees, nationwide, on standby to ensure that the rights of protesters were not abused and to provide pro-bono legal services to anyone who might require same during or after the protest. .

The Inspector General of Police also assured that citizens would be allowed to exercise their right to protest but must do so without any threat to peace, law and order.