General News
ACTIVITIES in Calabar, Cross River, were on standstill on Thursday as the planned nationwide protest began.
The organisers of the protest had said it would hold from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigeria Police personnel were seen in large numbers patrolling the streets in the state capital.
NAN also observed that while there has been no sign of protesters, banks, markets and other businesses all closed, except some medical facilities.
Miss Cynthia Atoe, a health worker with one of the medical facilities in Calabar, told NAN that she was at her bus stop for a long time because there was no commercial vehicle to take her to work.
“I could see both sides of the road to the left and right because Marian Road where I stood was totally deserted.
“When I finally saw a bus willing to take me halfway, it was a short trip of fear as we were constantly on the lookout for any strange activity on the road,” she said.
Also, Mrs Maria Ejom said she went out to get a call card but was disappointed because the shops were all locked and she needed to make an urgent call.
A mini bus driver, Mr Paul Okechukwu who plied the popular Watt Market route said he decided to park his vehicle because he still remembered the 2020 #EndSARS protest and the massive vandalism that followed it.
NAN also reports that security officials were stationed at different junctions of the city.
NAN recalled that different groups in the state, including members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had said they would boycott the protest. (NAN)
1st August, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: ACTIVITIES in Calabar
