As protests spread across Nigeria, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering in various states to voice their frustration against the country’s worsening economic hardship. In a heart-wrenching scene, a woman was seen crying and holding an empty pot on her head, pleading for relief from the acute hunger she and many others are experiencing.
The woman’s emotional plea highlighted the desperation of Nigerians as protests erupted nationwide on Thursday against the country’s worsening hardship. The woman, teary-eyed and holding an empty pot on her head, was seen crying out in anguish amid hundreds of protesters gathered at the venue. She wailed in Yoruba, “Ebi o, ebi o” (“Hunger, hunger”), drawing attention to her plight.
The protests, which were planned for Thursday, saw demonstrators take to the streets in several states, with some major roads deserted. In Lagos, protesters moved from Ikeja under bridge to Allen Avenue and were heading to the Oregun area of the state.
However, amid the peaceful protests, a seasoned demonstrator warned fellow protesters to be vigilant, citing the presence of ungenuine activists who may have ulterior motives. “Nigerians have to be careful,” he said in an exclusive interview. “I have seen many ungenuine activists in this ongoing protest, and their intentions might not be pure.”
The demonstrator, who has participated in many protests in the country, claimed that some individuals who caused havoc during the October 2020 EndSARS protest were also present in the current protests. “They might want to repeat the same havoc,” he warned.
As the protests continue, demonstrators are calling for urgent action to address the country’s economic woes, which have left many struggling to survive.
