Shops and banks at the popular Taminus market in Jos, Plateau State were practically closed on Thursday as the state joined other parts of Nigeria to protest against hunger and suffering.
Traders at the market were seen discussing in groups about the situation in the country, with many expressing concern about the impact of the protest on their businesses.
A shop owner, who simply identified himself as Mark, told BusinessDay that “I don’t know what the protest would turn into, so other traders and I had decided to hang around our shops to monitor the situation”.
The situation was the same at the major streets in the town of Jos, with few vehicles plying the roads in the state capital.
The protest, which was peaceful as at 11:03 am, saw a small but determined group of protesters marching through the streets, carrying placards and chanting slogans.
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The protesters were demanding an end to hunger and suffering in the country, and were calling on the government to reverse its anti-people policies.
The Plateau State government had earlier rejected the protest, citing security concerns, but the protesters were undeterred.
Despite the closure of shops and banks, the protest was generally peaceful at the time of filing this report, with no reports of violence or clashes between protesters and security operatives.
The protest in Plateau State was part of a nationwide protest against hunger and suffering, with many other states across the country also participating.
As the protest continues, it remains to be seen what impact it will have on the government and the country as a whole.
