Protesters on Day 3 in Port Harcourt

*Pan Niger Delta Forum calls for end of protest and commends peaceful rallies.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt 

The #EndBadGovernace  nationwide protests continued today three, Saturday, which is day three with Protesters first gathering at the Pleasure Park along Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway Port Harcourt.

The Protesters have barricaded the Eliozu junction Axis of the East-West road. The Protesters carried the Nigerian flags, while others carried twigs and tree branches. They vowed that they would not stop until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed their demands.

However, most shop owners who out of precaution closed their businesses have opened, while commercial vehicles have been making brisk businesses.

Noticeable, however, is that Commuters passing through Rumuokoro flyover roundabout to areas like, Rukpokwu, Igwuruta-ali, Omagwa, Etche and other towns experience traffic gridlock. This is due to the closure of one lane by the Police since June 17 in response to directives by Police Force headquarters that the appointed Caretaker Committees of the 23 local should not be allowed access to the Council secretariats.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, commends the people of the Niger Delta region, especially leaders of ethnic youth organizations, community-based and civil society groups, as well as activists, ex-agitators, and youths in general, for maintaining peace in the Niger Delta region in the face of the nationwide protests.

In a press statement signed on behalf of the group,

Dr Ken Robinson, National Publicity Secretary

Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF said in light of reports of looting, destruction, and loss of lives in some parts of the country, PANDEF urges the protesters in some states of the region to end their protests to prevent criminal elements from hijacking the process and causing disruptions to the relative peace in the region.

The group said it is important to note that the point has already been made.

“We call on the government at all levels to take necessary and urgent steps to address the difficulties citizens are facing.

Our Correspondent reports that that there was a heavy presence of security mainly made up of a detachment of officers and men of the Rivers Police Command overlooking the Pleasure Park.

There were also scores of Protesters marching along Aggrey Road in Port Harcourt township today singing songs and calling on the President to meet their demands like the restoration of fuel subsidy, reduction hike in the cost of Power find solutions to the prevailing hunger among others.

As of day three of the protests, no violence has so far been reported in all parts of the state.