EBONYI RESIDENTS SHUN NATIONWIDE HUNGER

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Residents of Ebonyi State today failed to turn out for the national protest against hardship and bad governance holding across the country.

A visit to Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Unity Square and Udensi roundabout which are popular venues for rallies and protests in Abakaliki showed that people were going about there normal activities.

A resident spotted at the stadium, Mr. Ejike Nwibo, told Radio Nigeria that the protest failed to hold as a result overwhelming government’s influence and threats emanating from yesterday’s engagements between the people and the government.

Another resident, Miss Millicent Chikwado, explained that individuals were scared to come out because government and security agencies neither provided security cover nor safety guidelines for proponents of the protest.

An active citizen, who gave his name as John Otuu, said the fears exhibited by the residents of the state showed the level of suppression in the state and called on the government to urgently address hunger and other economic issues confronting the people.

The state Coordinator National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Christopher Okorie, emphasised that the Commission had provided measures and a hotline to ensure that people’s rights were not infringed during the protest.

He pointed out that it was within the fundamental rights of Nigerians to ventilate their frustrations within the confines of the law.

Radio Nigeria however observed that there was light traffic across the state capital as commercial banks, some shops and business centres were locked.

Security operatives were stationed at strategic positions with others patrolling the capital city.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU