As the August 1-10 #EndBadGovernance protests finally came to an end, some businesses have yet to reopen due to the unrestrained-bold/shameless destruction caused by hoodlums who hijacked the protests across most parts of the North-East, according to local reporters.
Gombe, Yobe, Borno, and Bauchi experienced significant destruction, violence, and looting, while Adamawa and Taraba remained peaceful, hosting counter-protests in support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its policies.
Like many regions with operational flight activities, the North-East was at a standstill, with flights rescheduled for August 10 for those with booked schedules.
The #EndBadGovernance protest, according to reports from across, aimed to draw the government’s attention to the hardships caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy, increases in electricity tariffs, and rising fees in public institutions, among other issues.
In Gombe State, aside from the popular Bima Lodge—a hotel where several pieces of equipment were stolen—the Bureau of Public Service Reform, Blue J Motors, and the Gombe Revenue Tribunal office also suffered destruction. Some business owners, particularly those of Igbo descent, have been counting their losses in the aftermath of the protests.
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno alleged that 95 percent of the youths who participated in the violent protests in Maiduguri were children under the age of 14.
Zulum emphasized, “Over 95 percent of those who participated in the so-called Thursday protests were children under 14 years old. Most of them do not understand why they are protesting.”
“A six-year-old child carrying a placard is astonishing; he must have been directed by someone. Most of these children are not from Borno.”
The governor, who also serves as the Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum, added, “In what could have been a major disaster, attempts were made by hoodlums on several occasions to attack the Maiduguri Emergency Power Gas Plant; however, these attempts were averted by our gallant security forces. Violence has no place in our society, and I implore citizens to reject any calls to arms or acts of aggression.
“As we lift the curfew on Saturday, any person who engages in looting or violent activities will be dealt with accordingly,” the governor warned.
Aftermath of the #EndBadGovernance Protest in the Northeast
