In Borno State, workers have united with the Nigeria Labour Congress in a nationwide peaceful rally against the economic hardship in the country.
The protesters are spotted walking just a few meters outside the gate of the NLC secretariat, moving towards the junction of the road that leads to Vice President Kashim Shettima’s residence.
However, they were stopped by a barricade set up by police officers at the junction.
The State NLC chairman, Yusuf Inuwa, had previously informed the workers gathered at the secretariat for the rally that they were restricted by the Police AIG Zone 15, Abdu Umar, and the Borno CP, Mohammed Yusufu, due to the unique security situation of the state.
During their meeting with the police at the State Police Command, which went on until approximately 3:30 am, it was reported by the police that there were intelligence reports suggesting that some miscreants were planning to sneak in and hijack the protest.
“Two to three days ago there were intelligence reports that some of the surrendered Boko Haram insurgents, who have been complaining of hunger and threatening to go back to the bush, were planning to sneak in and hijack the protest, which could have resulted in a development more dangerous than we can imagine,” Inuwa stated.
Under the leadership of Yusufu, police operatives had previously blocked the workers from exiting the NLC secretariat gate, cautioning that they were empowered to seal the secretariat if the workers persisted.
However, the workers were later permitted to hold the rally at the gate of the secretariat, which stretched a few meters to the junction of the road leading to the Vice President's house.
