Youths in Ogun State have largely stayed away from the ongoing #FearlessOctober1 protests held across the nation on Tuesday.
Reports have it that regular activities and movement of people continued without disruption in key areas such as Mowe, Interchange, Okemosan, Panseke, and Kuto.
Security operatives, including personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps, and the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, were stationed at strategic locations to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
It should be recalled that a High Court sitting in Abeokuta restricted members of the #FearlessInOctober protest group to specific venues, including the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Gateway International Stadium in Sagamu, Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode, and Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School in Ota.
The court, presided over by Justice Tajudeen Okunsokan, issued the order on Monday following an application filed by the State Attorney-General in suit no. AB/667/2024. The application named Messrs. Afolabi Adeboye, Ifemosu Michael, and Lekan Soneye (on behalf of themselves and members of the #FearlessInOctober protest), as well as Bestman Okereafor (representing the Progressive Students Movement), among others.
The court also directed the Commissioner of Police to enforce the ruling, which is valid for seven days, in accordance with Order 39 of the Ogun State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2014.
When our correspondent visited the MKO Abiola Stadium and the popular Skating Ground in Abeokuta on Tuesday, there were no signs of protest activity.
One youth, identified as Jamiu, explained his reasons for not joining the protest, saying, "How has protesting ever helped the nation? What have previous protests achieved?"
Another youth, Ayo Adeyemi, who spoke from the Kuto area, acknowledged the current economic hardship but questioned the effectiveness of protests. "Yes, things are tough, but will protesting change anything? Joining the protest is a waste of time and puts you at risk," Adeyemi said.
Meanwhile, protests were reported in other parts of the country, with demonstrators gathering in Lagos and Abuja.
