A downpour that began at 11:40 a.m. dispersed peaceful protesters at the popular Ring Road in Benin, the Edo State capital, who were participating in the nationwide protest tagged "#EndBadGovernance."
The protesters had gathered as early as 7 a.m. and were restricted to Ring Road, where a podium was set up, and music was played loudly, creating a carnival-like atmosphere amid heavy security presence, as indicated by Edo Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, on Wednesday night.
Protesters, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, had barricaded major roads and streets of Benin and its environs. This paralysed economic and commercial activities, as roads, streets, offices, banks, markets, and other business places were deserted.
One of the protest leaders, Matthew Ojeikere, insisted that they were not sponsored and emphasized their demand for an end to hunger and better governance in Nigeria.
