#June12thProtest: We Are Here For The Money- Pro-Government Protesters Reveal
Some of the pro-government protesters said they wore vests to chant praises of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on the promises of being paid.
Pro-government supporters have said they were paid to counter anti-government protesters on a Democracy Day demonstration against bad governance in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
HumAngle earlier reported an attack on a lone anti-government protester who came to the Unity Fountain in Abuja with a placard asking the president to resign.
Some of the pro-government protesters who spoke with HumAngle said they came from different locations in Abuja to rally support for President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday June12, 2021.
They were promised the sum of N500 and N1000 to do the job, Aliyu, a teen said.
“I came from Kado Kuchi while some came from Durumi. We were given shirts with inscriptions like ‘Are you with Buhari’?” said Alihu, one of the pro-government protesters who spoke to HumAngle.
Another protester, a boy of about 15 years said, “I am here for the money bros, no be say I like Buhari.”
Aside from the young boys and girls who were on ground to carry banners and placards, there were also adults, women and men, who joined the protest because of the monetary reward.
Aliyu, however, refused to mention the names of those sponsoring the pro-government rally, claiming the coordinators were different as ‘it depends on the NGOs who brought you.’
These protesters were also seen being transported from the protest ground in batches with trucks and some coaster buses to another location.
“We are going back to Next cash and carry” some groups said when asked where they were being transported to.
I’m not anywhere after this place, they should collect their clothes and give me my money,” one of the protesters said in Hausa.
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