#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Politicians hire thugs to protect properties in Calabar

Politicians in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, have resorted to recruiting thugs to protect their private properties from being vandalised by hoodlums in the ongoing nationwide “hunger protest.”

The Guardian, who monitored the situation around the houses of the politicians, observed that the hoodlums in their numbers were seen milling around these properties.

A private residence of the immediate past governor of the state and a serving member of the state’s House of Assembly had some of these hoodlums.

Though the protest is not effective in Calabar, these hoodlums, who have less work on their hands now, were seen drinking and playing music in front of and around these properties.

A politician, who pleaded anonymity, said: “All we are doing is to prevent the recurrence of the #EndSARS protest, where private properties belonging to some political class were touched in Calabar.”

It was also observed that security agencies have also taken positions in most state and federal government-owned institutions.

A heavy presence of security personnel, including uniformed and plain-clothed ones, was visible at Eleven-Eleven Roundabout, Mary Slessor, Murtala Mohammed Highway, the general hospital, and the federal and state secretariats, among others.

As the protest enters its second day, residents have continued to go about their businesses peacefully, but offices, banks, petrol stations, and other institutions remain closed.

As usual, intra- and inter-city transportation, including tricycle operators, was seen in all parts of the Calabar metropolis, conveying passengers peacefully to their destinations.