Anti-protesters beat journalists covering #EndBadGovernance protest in Delta

#EndBadGovernance protesters yesterday who carried out a peaceful rally, grounded Asaba, Delta State capital, as banks, markets, shops and other commercial activities were shutdown.

The protest went on peacefully until the government-sponsored anti-protesters arrived Inter bua roundabout, the meeting point of the protesters at about 11:20am, attacked and chased the protesters away from the scene.

The anti-protesters also attacked some journalists covering the protest. The journalists include The Guardian correspondent, Monday Osayande; Sahara Reporters Asaba correspondent, Amor Udemude; Punch correspondent, Matthew Ochei; and Pointer reporter, Lucy Ezeliora.

The anti-protesters forcefully manhandled the journalists for taking photos and interviewing the protesters. They smashed their gadgets and started attacking them, while security personnel folded their hands watching the unfolding event unchallenged.

The Pointer reporter, Mrs Lucy, however, sneaked out after she was slapped. One of the military officers who later came to the journalists’ rescue, asked them to leave the arena to avoid further beating.

It took the efforts of the military personnel to rescue the journalists from the iron grip of the anti-protesters who insisted that they must delete the photos and records before leaving the scene.

The Guardian learnt that the anti-protesters were allegedly paid a huge sum of money by the Delta State Government, two days earlier to disrupt the protest.

Meanwhile, the state government has claimed it was not aware of the attack on journalists. The Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Thankgod Trakiriowei, while condemning the attack, applauded Delta youth for the peaceful protest, saying the state is not known for violence.

The protesters moved from Interbau roundabout, through Nnebisi road to the Ogbeogonogo main Market.

Security personnel had attempted to restrict their movement within the Interbau roundabout, but the protesters were later allowed to move around. They filed out, moving round Asaba town.

The streets of Asaba were deserted as police took over the place for fear of being hijacked by miscreants to loot and commit crime

Speaking to journalists, one of the protesters, Chinedu Okafor, said: “We are here to protest against what we are suffering today because of the bad government.”
According to him, the electoral reform is not working well hence we have bad leaders.

He said it is amazing that corruption and embezzlement amounting to trillions of naira is going on without any consequence.

“Nigeria youths should come out to protest, they should not be afraid to come out to protest but not with bad intensions, not to hijack the peace protest because of what is happening in the country.

“There is hunger everywhere. Security personnel have children, they go to same market with us. The politicians too, but they are not feeling what we are feeling because they are well paid.

” Today, it is hard for people to survive because things are too hard. If you are at home things would not change over now, we have to fight for it for our leaders to know what we are passing through in life”, he declared.