The #ENDSARS protests are continuing nationwide in Lagos, Abuja and other state capitals in Nigeria.
However, the #ENDSARS protesters experienced a nightmarish experience in the hands of some security operatives as they took their grievances to National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Tuesday.
At the junction approaching National Assembly, security operatives comprising a detachment of soldiers and policemen stopped and assaulted #ENDSARS protesters who were heading to the Assembly .
The protesters numbering more than 50 on sighting the security operatives knelt down and paid homage to them.
One of the soldiers approached the protesters led by Aisha Yesufu, human rights activist, collected a flag from one of the protesters and shortly ordered them to retreat or be dealt with.
While the argument ensued, another soldier snatched a camera from Arise News cameraman and smashed it on the ground.
Ferdinand Duruoha, Arise News reporter who covered the protest live accompanied the protesters to the scene of the incident.
“Other cameras were seized by the security operatives to stop them recording the incident live,” he narrated.
Duruoha said “The security operatives have seized our camera and this was the second camera confiscated in the last 48 hours. When the security men confiscated our camera on Sunday, I paid money for the treatment of the cameraman and I treated myself.
“The soldiers had moved in and ordered the protesters to lie down and they are using the butt of guns to beat them.”
But report from the scene of the incident showed that after much pressure, the soldiers have released the Arise News camera.
Despite the beating, the adamant protesters maintained their stance not to back down but to reach the Assembly and present their requests on end SARS to the leadership of the National Assembly.
Later, the soldiers ordered the protesters to go to Unity Fountain, Abuja. The crowd had returned to the location to continue with their protest.
In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the protesters moved through major streets, including Wellington Bassey End housing Government House, Uyo.
Reports from Port Harcourt say that despite warning by Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike against protest in his state, the EndSARS protesters stormed the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital on Tuesday in defiance to his directive.
The youths who converged opposite the Pleasure Park at Aba Road began their procession carrying placards and chanting “End SARS” insisting the Governor had no right to ban peaceful protests.
More details later…
