Panseke area of Abeokuta, Ogun State. Photo credit: Johnson Idowu
Youths in Ogun State have shunned the ongoing #FearlessOctober1 protest held across the nation on Tuesday.
PUNCH Online correspondent who monitored activities around the Mowe, Interchange, Okemosan, Panseke and Kuto areas of the state observed that regular activities and movement of people occurred without disruption.
Also, security operatives including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps and men of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, manned strategic positions across this area to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Recall that a High Court sitting in Abeokuta restricted members of the #FearlessInOctober protest groups to the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Gateway International Stadium in Sagamu, the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode, and Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School in the Ota part of the state.
The court presided over by Tajudeen Okunsokan, gave the order on Monday, following an application brought by the State Attorney-General in suit no. AB/667/2024, with Messrs. Afolabi Adeboye, Ifemosu Michael, and Lekan Soneye (for themselves and members of the #FearlessInOctober protests); Bestman Okereafor (on behalf of the Progressive Students Movement); among others.
“The court also directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure the enforcement of the ruling, which shall run for seven days as provided under Order 39 of the High Court of Ogun State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2014.”
When our correspondent visited the MKO Abiola Stadium and the popular Skating Ground in Abeokuta on Tuesday, there were no signs of the protesters.
When our correspondent approached a youth identified as Jamiu to demand why he was not joining the nationwide protest, he said, “How has protest helped the nation? What have previous protests achieved?”
Another youth in the Kuto area, Ayo Adeyemi, lamented the hardship but noted that protest would not solve the problem of the high cost of living.
“It is true that things are difficult but would protest solve anything? Joining the protest is a waste of time and an effort that puts you at risk,” Adeyemi said.
Meanwhile, protesters have gathered in Lagos and Abuja.
