Business and commercial activities were on Monday grounded for hours in Umuahia, the Abia State capital as youths across the state joined their counterparts to lend their voices to the ongoing nationwide protest against police brutality and lack of people oriented government in the country.
The protesters who took off in the morning from the popular Okpara Square marched through the popular Isi gate to the Akanu Ibiam road, causing heavy gridlock on the road.
Mild drama however played out when the youths decided to block the entrance to the Abia State Government House and the ever-busy Federal medical Center (FMC) junction after they waited without being addressed by the governor; Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu or any of his aides.
Some of the youths who were apparently hungry, while waiting to be addressed by the governor, took the opportunity to set fire in the middle of the road to cook and have their lunch with other protesters.
A Good Samaritan also provided food to the youths taking part in the protest.
Though no speeches were made, the protesters stated that they were going to occupy the junction for three days until the Governor comes out to address them.
Shouting slogans against President Muhammadu Buhari and the police, the protesters called for End SARS, Reformation of the country and among other things being agitated for.
Commuters were however, forced to trek to their location while some vehicle owners who couldn’t wait for the traffic to ease off, parked in any available space to continue their movement by foot
Some of the youths who spoke to our reporter said that their demands were not different from the ones being championed across the country by their counterparts, stressing that time is ripe for government, elected officials and anybody serving and working in any public office to be accountable to the public who they are serving.
According to them, it is irresponsible for anyone, including the military, to think that the guns and ammunition they wield is to be used against the taxpayers that they were supposed to be protesting with such weapons.
Throughout the protest, no Army or Police personnel intervened or disrupted the protest which was peaceful.
Reacting, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu commanded the peaceful disposition of the protesting youths and urged them to continue with the peaceful disposition as they protest.
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At the time of filing this report, the protest was still ongoing.
