EndBadGovernance protest: Army, police beef up

Security was on Friday beefed up within the Benin metropolis especially around government infrastructures as the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest entered day two.

DAILY POST reports that men of the Nigerian Army, police and Civil Defence were stationed at strategic locations within the city centre and the Kings Square venue of the protest.

Several vehicles of the Nigerian Army and armed policemen were seen patrolling major streets particularly Sakponba Road and other major roads.

An army armoured personnel carrier and that of the police were stationed at the Akpakpava Road by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Edo State House of Assembly.

The soldiers also removed barricades on Sapele Road, erected by youths at different points, of while police also removed those at the Ramat Park, Auchi Bypass Road.

DAILY POST learnt that policemen dispersed some youths with teargas at Benin-Auchi bypass.

Youths also barricaded the ever-busy Ekenwa Road.

However, the Government Reservation Area witnessed heavy vehicular movement as motorists used the area to connect remote parts of Sapele Road.

Commuters who travelled to Benin from other states were prevented from entering the city at Auchi bypass.

Others who could not wait for buses and taxis to start plying the route engaged the services of commercial motorcyclists to continue their journey.

Commercial activities, however, gradually picked up compared to Thursday whereby business owners shut down their business premises.

While commercial banks were still under lock and key, some filling stations, however, opened for business.

Business activities gradually retuned to the ever-busy Oba market, Lagos Street, Ibiwe Street and some adjoining streets around the Kings Square.

Protesters defied heavy downpour to partake in the protest.

One of the leaders of the coalition of civil society organisation that is coordinating the protest in the state, Kola Edokpayi, said that the protest was going on successfully. He noted that people from Ogida, Upper Sakponba and other parts of the state, joined them at the centre, to ensure it remains peaceful.