The ongoing nationwide protest against bad governance in Nigeria descended into chaos in Maiduguri, North East Nigeria, as police clashed with demonstrators.
Hundreds of young men gathered on the Maiduguri-Kano highway, blocking one carriageway and chanting anti-government slogans. The protesters, who had vowed a hunger strike, faced off against police deployed to maintain order.
When some of the protesters sighted a convoy of security personnel, they began throwing stones and sticks at the officers, and the situation escalated. In response, the police fired teargas to disperse the menacing advancement of the crowd, causing chaos and prompting the demonstrators to scatter in search of safety.
Despite the heavy smoke and continued efforts by the security personnel to push back the protesters, they remained defiant, continuing to sing and chant slogans criticising the government.
“We shall not be deterred by your teargas,” said one of the protesters.
Within the city centre, especially along Lagos Street, hundreds of young boys, many of them Almajiris, were seen occupying the street carrying sticks and chanting, “Ba ma so, ba ma so,” a Hausa phrase meaning “we don’t want.”
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