Early morning rains of Thursday and Police restrictions have botched the nationwide planned hunger protest in Akwa Ibom State.
The protesters were meant to kick off at the Unity Park, Udo Udoma in Uyo, the approved venue by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, however, the rains and heavy presence of the security operatives scared away a few protesters who turned up at the venue.
It was also gathered that the operatives restricted the protesters from moving to other locations amid the downpour which lasted till late afternoon.
Most roads in Uyo, the state capital and other major cities of Eket and Ikot Ekpene were deserted with many passengers stranded due to the presence of few vehicles.
Most civil servants did not turn up for work while markets, banks and most businesses were closed for fear of looting.
A visit to some strategic locations in Uyo metropolis where protesters usually converge such as Nwaniba Water Fountain, popular Ibom Plaza, Secretariat roundabout, and circus among others was visibly bereft of protesters but had security operatives including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence and the local security outfit, Ibom watch patrolling the area.
Meanwhile, a few protesters who went home disappointed accused police of restricting them to only the Unity Park which they described as remote.
One of the protesters who identified himself as Mfon said today was only the first day of the ten days of the planned protest and they would remobilize to carry out the exercise which he described as ‘a mandate.’
“The protest is not just for today, it’s for ten days, we will mobilize elsewhere and we will carry out this mandate peacefully.”
Recall that Governor Umo Eno had earlier held a stakeholders forum where leaders of some organisations like NLC and NANS backed out of the protest.
Another group, Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, Akwa Ibom State chapter last night warned youths against participating in the protest.