In a wave of nationwide protests dubbed #FearlessInOctober, frustrated Nigerian youths have voiced their outrage against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of attempting to silence their concerns while corruption runs rampant, allowing politicians to embezzle public funds.
This recent protest is seen as a continuation of the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations that occurred from August 1 to 10, ignited by the economic hardships faced by countless Nigerians.
According to reports, one protester in Abuja expressed their anger over the pervasive hunger in the country, stating, “The Nigerian government seeks to depress, suppress, and oppress its citizens to the point where we fear expressing our fundamental rights.”
“They want to silence dissenting voices, but today, we are here to show the government that our voices will never be stifled,” the protester added.
Another participant criticized the government’s failure to address pressing issues, saying, “If the administration has led us to this dire situation, they should not expect us to remain silent while we suffer through poverty, insecurity, and poor leadership across all sectors, including healthcare and education.”
Highlighting the rampant corruption among the political elite, a different protester remarked, “Yahaya Bello is stealing from one side, while Emefiele is looting from another. These politicians continue their schemes as ordinary Nigerians endure hardship. A bag of rice now costs about N100,000, and fuel exceeds N1,000 per litre. You can’t tell us that isn’t reason enough to protest—we are starving!”
Earlier reports revealed that police forces had clashed with some demonstrators in Abuja, who were protesting against the deteriorating economic conditions and rising poverty levels.
Officers were seen deploying tear gas and live ammunition against peaceful protesters in areas like Jabi and Utako within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), compelling many to flee for their safety.
