Protest: C’River politicians hire thugs to protect properties

Politicians in Cross River State are hiring thugs to protect their private properties for fear of being vandalised by hoodlums in the ongoing nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance.

This is so as the situation around the houses of some of the politicians have some thugs in their numbers mounting the gates and around these properties.

According to the Guardian, the private residence of the immediate past governor of the state and a serving member of the State’s House of Assembly had some of these thugs.

The report says the hoodlums, who have less work on their hands, were seen drinking and playing music in front of and around these properties, as the protest in the state is not effective.

“All we are doing is to prevent the recurrence of the #EndSARS protest, where private properties belonging to some political class were touched in Calabar,” a politician who pleaded anonymity told this newspaper.

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CONVERSEER reports that since the arrest and release of 10 protesters including a journalist on Day 1 of the protest (1st August), security agencies have taken positions in most State and Federal Government-owned institutions.

A heavy presence of security personnel, including uniformed and plain-clothed ones, was visible at 11-11 Roundabout, Mary Slessor, Murtala Mohammed Highway, Marian, General Hospital, Federal and State Secretariats, and almost every junction and parastatal.

CONVERSEER reported earlier that shops, businesses, markets, banks, fueling stations, motor parks, and other institutions are closed as the protest enters its second day.

Meanwhile, transportation of people to and fro their destinations can noticed across the Calabar metropolis.