Protest: Business activities pick up in Osogbo

As the nationwide protest enters its second day on Friday, business activities are gradually resuming in Osogbo, with the reopening of some shops and markets earlier closed on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the markets that opened for activities include the Akindeko Market, MDS Shopping Complex and Orisunmibare Market.

However, commercial banks were still on Friday under lock and key, with security personnel stationed at strategic locations.

A foodstuff seller at Orisunmibare market, Alhaja Fausat Akanbi, said shopowners cautiously locked their stores on Thursday to avoid any unfortunate turn of the protest.

“We had to be careful because we didn’t know what the protest might turn out to be.

“During the EndSARS protest in 2020, many of the shops at Orisunmibare were looted and some of the shop owners lost their means of livelihood.

“We were afraid the same thing might happen this time, but we thank God that the protest was orderly and peaceful yesterday, and that is why we decided to reopen today.

“Again, security personnel were everywhere yesterday and that gave us additional assurance that there would be no problem,” she said.

A commercial driver, Mr Kamoru Hakeem, said he was pleased with the peaceful manner of the protest on Thursday.

According to him, if protests were done everywhere, like in Osun, there would be no problem with having a protest.

“The way they did the protest was so nice. There was no violence and nobody was attacked as protesters marched peacefully through the streets without hoodlums infiltrating their camp.

“I hope that the expected result is achieved at the end of the day,” he said.

Meanwhile, NAN reports that protesters regathered on Friday at Freedom Park in Osogbo, marching towards Olaiya junction.

The protest coordinators, Ajala Adetunji of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens and Mr. Waheed Lawal, Chairman, Osun People’s Coalition Society, both called for a peaceful atmosphere.

They urged the protesters not to be unruly and to keep from attacking people, warning that offenders would be arrested by security operatives.