Paid anti-protesters arrive Moshood Abiola Stadium

At least 11 buses filled with ‘No protest’ protesters arrived at the premises of Moshood Abiola National Stadium at about 9:35 a.m. on Thursday, the first day of the planned 10-day protests.

Three of them told PREMIUM TIMES in separate interviews that they were promised N5,000 each to participate in the anti-protest.

Two also said they were picked up from Asokoro village, a large sprawling settlement behind the highbrow Asokoro District where some wealthy and influential Nigerians live.

A man, believed to be their leader, who arrived at the venue in a black Toyota SUV with an Abuja plate number marked KWL 895 CH, was seen instructing them on what to do.

One of the participants, who identified himself as Sabi’u, told this newspaper that they were promised N5,000 each.

He added that N2,000 had been paid to each of them and that the remaining N3,000 would be paid after the protests.

Two others, who gave their names as Muhammad and Abdulkareem, said they were picked up at the Asokoro village.

However, it is unclear if government officials hired them as they claim not to know.

Several government officials have appealed to the protest organisers not to embark on the action as they were trying to address the economic hardship in the country.