At least 11 youths and residents were arrested on Saturday morning as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force intensified efforts to clamp down on the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in Yobe State.
The arrests occurred in the towns of Damaturu, Potiskum, and Gashua, where the youths were reportedly forcefully taken from their residences.
According to sources, those arrested were considered to be prominent and vocal participants in the ongoing nationwide protests against bad governance in Nigeria.
A source privy to the situation told Newsmen that the arrested individuals were perceived as leading figures in the protests and had been particularly outspoken about the current economic hardships faced by many Nigerians.
The source explained, “Several youths were also apprehended in Damaturu and Potiskum. This appears to be an attempt to punish those who have been vocal about the ongoing economic hardship. At least 11 youths were taken from Gashua and have been transported to the state police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Damaturu.”
The arrests have caused significant tension in the affected areas, with residents worried that the crackdown might expand to target all participants in the peaceful protests. The situation remains volatile as the community awaits further developments.