Some pro-government protesters have revealed how they were recruited to join a rally aimed at countering the mainstream June 12 protests on Saturday.
Civic groups and activists had chosen the June 12 Democracy Day to express their grievances against the Muhammadu Buhari-led government, which they accused of poorly governing Nigeria and being lackadaisical in its handling of the country’s worsening security situation.
But in a move to overshadow the mainstream protests, hundreds of protesters sporting branded T-shirts with pro-Buhari inscriptions also trooped to the streets of Abuja on Saturday.
Some of them who randomly spoke to PREMIUM TIMES at Unity Fountain, Abuja, said they were promised to be paid between N1,500 and N2,5000 to attend the counter-protest.
“I was in my area when they called me to come to do something. They promised to pay us. Some are promised N2,000 while some have been promised N1,500,” Abdul Yusuf told this newspaper on camera.
Mr Yusuf, in his branded T-shirt, physically exhausted from the rally, said they were mobilised by their leader, Muhammad Garba, from Area 1 District in Abuja.
“They’ve not paid but I know that they will pay,” he added as he made to leave, probably for Area 1, to receive the promised payment.
Mr Yusuf’s story was corroborated to this newspaper by at least four other protesters at the location, among whom were two teenagers walking home after the event.
One of the teenagers who identified himself as Muhammadu said they were invited for a meeting in support of Nigeria’s president and were promised N2500 each.
“We were promised 2,500 but we have not been paid yet,” he said in Hausa language.
Except Mr Yusuf who said he was contracted to appear at the scene till 11 a.m., n11 a.m. the other pro-Buhari protesters divulged who called them to join the protest.
