Protest peaceful in Edo

Protesters under the coalition of civil society organisations on Thursday occupied King Square, popularly known as Ring Road in Benin for the nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest.

The protesters converged at the venue, designated by the police, as early as 7:30 am.

DAILY POST reports that members of the coalition erected a podium and musical instruments as a way of expressing their grievances.

Men of the Edo State Police Command were also at the venue to monitor and provide the necessary security protection.

However, commercial activities in the area were all grounded, as many of the businessmen and women stayed away from their posts for fear of being attacked by hoodlums who may wish to hijack the exercise.

Commercial banks like First Bank, located at the Kings Square venue of the protest, Access Bank, United Bank of Africa, Wema Bank, and Polaris Bank, all on the ever-busy Akpakpava Road, were all under lock and key.

Public and private institutions such as the Benin Legacy Mall, popularly referred to as Fordmart, filling stations like the NNPC mega station along Sapele Road, the Edo State Civil Service Secretariat, and the State House of Assembly were also under lock and key.

The combined team from the Nigeria Army and Nigeria Police Force, along with an armed squad of the Nigeria Correctional Service, were all stationed at the Benin Correctional Centre along Sapele Road.

Officials of DSS were deployed to the corporate headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

At the Edo State House of Assembly, armoured personnel vehicles and detachments of policemen were stationed at the entrance gate and environs.

There was no restriction on movement. However, not many commercial motorists came out for business.

At the ever-busy Oba market, many traders were not in the market for fear of being attacked by hoodlums.

A staff of one of the commercial banks who spoke on condition of anonymity said they are not opening for business to avoid the repeat of the #EndSars and cashless policy protests where several banks were attacked and facilities vandalised by protesters.

At the Edo Civil Service Secretariat, the entrance and exit gates were locked while personnel of the Edo State Security Network, ESSN, were stationed at the gates with their vehicles.

A civil servant, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “I came to work, but as you can see, nobody is in the secretariat. The gates are under lock and key.”

DAILY POST, learnt that some people who mounted roadblocks on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road quickly dispersed when they sighted police officers.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Funsho Adegboye, commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct.

Adegboye, who addressed the protesters at the designated place at Kings Square, said he was impressed by the way the protesters peacefully conducted themselves and urged them to sustain it.

He promised to provide water and snacks to the protesters in appreciation of their peaceful conduct.