When the United States Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria sounded the alarm, warning of potential terrorist attacks during the “10 Days of Rage” nationwide protests, many thought it was a false alarm.
However, just a few hours into what many have described as needless, the “10 days of Rage” is descending into chaos; confirming the fears of well-meaning Nigerians.
Though starting out peacefully in the early hours of the day, the “10 days of Rage have been a maelstrom of violence, looting, and destruction, leaving Nigerians reeling and wondering if their country is not being set up for another huge setback.
The anonymous-led protests against economic hardship, which began on Thursday, started with a sense of purpose and urgency.
But as the days wore on, the demonstrations turned ugly, descending into chaos and anarchy.
Looting and Destruction
In Kano, the newly built Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park, a symbol of hope and progress, was looted and set ablaze.
The ICT centre, which was meant to support the technical talent accelerator program, was raided, and millions of Naira worth of equipment was stolen.
The scenes of destruction were reminiscent of a war zone, with shattered glass, twisted metal, and charred remains of what once was.
Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, was left reeling from the destruction, saying, “Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters,”
“Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week.
“A slight setback for our journey to deepening our workforce for technology while creating job opportunities for the youth. Millions of Naira down the drain.”
In another incident, police operatives in Kano thwarted an attempt by youths to break into a grocery store, but not before the suspects had destroyed some windows of the building.
In Lagos, the police arrested two suspects and recovered a cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump action rifles, and live ammunition.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the city, leaving residents wondering if the anarchy that greeted the #ENDSARS protest is not about to be repeated.
Aside from the lives lost in the #ENDSARS protest, over 1Trillion Naira worth of investments also went off in flames.
Meanwhile, in Borno State, a curfew has been imposed following the detonation of improvised explosive devices, which resulted in the death of 16 people and injured several others.
The police have urged citizens to remain calm and law-abiding, but the sense of fear is palpable.
More harm than good
As the situation continues to unfold, Nigerians are left wondering if they haven’t embarked on a counterproductive mission.
The protests, which began with a noble cause may have been hijacked by violent elements, causing more harm than good.
Experts say it is essential for Nigerians to come together to find a peaceful solution to the economic and security challenges facing the country, not aggravating it and playing into the hands of those with selfish interests that will be happy to see the county burn into ashes while they jet away to enjoy their loots with their families and loved ones.
