Tension was palpable across Nigeria on Thursday as the much-anticipated #EndBadGovernance protests took place in almost all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In an attempt to curb looting, violence, and other after-effects of the protests, the governments of Kano, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, and Nasarawa states imposed curfews in volatile local government areas (LGAs). While Kano and Borno imposed 24-hour state-wide curfews, Yobe restricted movement in three LGAs, and Nasarawa imposed a curfew in one charged LGA. Katsina imposed a 24-hour curfew in Dutsin-Ma LGA and a 12-hour curfew in the remaining 33 LGAs.

Propelled by social media, the nationwide protests against economic hardship began on Thursday, August 1, 2024, and are scheduled to continue until August 10 across all states of the Federation, including the capital, Abuja.

The prices of food and basic commodities have soared in recent months as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises, sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

The police, military, and Department of State Services had warned against Kenya-style protests. Politicians, fearing that the rallies might end up like the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020, have continued to appeal to youths to cancel the rallies, but the young people remained undeterred.

Defiant, they gathered on Thursday morning in various states across the Federation. Initially in small numbers, they regrouped, expanded their presence, and continued, chanting solidarity songs with placards and banners bearing various inscriptions.

From Port Harcourt to Potiskum, from Eagle Square to MKO Abiola Park, from the iconic Lekki Tollgate to Gani Fawehinmi Park, symbolic of civil protests, they poured out. From the southern to the northern regions of the country, young and old, male and female, setting aside religious differences and ethnic affiliations, they braved the odds and presented their demands.

Some of the protesters’ demands include the restoration of petrol subsidies and the forex regime. They also call for the government to address food shortages, unemployment, and wasteful spending by those in power. Other demands include immediate reforms of the electoral body, INEC, and the anti-corruption agency, EFCC, with renewed vigour in the fight against corrupt politicians.

As the protests gained momentum, moving beyond the initial lethargy and hesitation of participants, policemen were seen dispersing the demonstrators, mostly youths, using tear gas, even as civil society organisations (CSOs) condemned the police’s actions.

Human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa criticised security agents for “provoking” peaceful protesters across the country. In a statement, Adegboruwa, who represents one of the organisers of the protests, The Take It Back Movement, warned that confrontation by security agents could escalate the protests and urged the security personnel to act professionally.

“The situation has so far been largely peaceful, especially in Lagos and Abuja. Pockets of skirmishes in some parts of the nation were due mainly to the provocation by security agencies. Despite this, the protests have been largely successful, well-coordinated, and on target.”

He urged the government to urgently identify and hold accountable any police or law enforcement officer found culpable of violating the rights of peaceful protesters, especially in locations where it has been reported that protesters were wounded or killed.

CSO leader Olawale Okunniyi of the United Action Front of Civil Society criticised the police for tear-gassing “defenceless protesters” in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Bauchi, and other states. He reported that three peaceful protesters tear-gassed by the police fainted in Abuja, with many others injured.

Lawyer Deji Adeyanju also accused the police of frustrating and harassing peaceful protesters in Abuja. The protests turned violent in some states when hoodlums took advantage of the demonstrations to loot and maim. Flashpoint states include Kano, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, and Nasarawa.