Hunger Protesters in Lagos ignored a court order restricting their protests to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu.
A particularly striking scene at the Ojota end of the protest was a naked men leading a group of chanting protesters along streets.
The Lagos State Government had argued that there was a need to protect the critical infrastructures of the state and prevent a repeat of the violent incidents that followed the EndSARS protests. Some 48 hours before the protests, Justice Emmanuel Ogundare of the Lagos High Court had granted the state government’s application.
However, this had no effect on the action of the protesters, as they gathered under the Ikeja bridge early in the morning around the Computer Village to express their frustration with the high cost of living and other economic challenges plaguing the country.
This is even as most businesses and shops in Lagos closed their doors for fears the protest might lead to violence and arson.
Mrs Dayo Alatise, manager of a fast food operation at the Egbeda area of Lagos said the management already advised the staff to stay home for the day. She said she was at the premises to check on things before going home.
“We all pray that the protest remain peaceful, because we all feel the effect of the high cost of foodstuffs and other goods,” Alatise said. “It is not that we are on strike, but we have decided to close shop today to ensure the safety our staff and prevent our premises from being looted.”
A video shared by a photojournalist better known as Pooja on X showed the protesters singing anti-government songs with some of them carrying placards.
The photojournalist also shared videos of police officers urging the protesters to move to the designated locations for the protests.
The caption of one of the videos reads, “The DPO of the police station in Alausa, Ikeja has addressed the group & asked them to go to Gani Fawehinmi park as that’s the designated location for the protest.”
The ongoing demonstration across the country is slated to last 10 days, according to the organisers.
