'Tinubu Must Go' protest blocks roads in Gusau: what we know, and your rights if you protest

Hundreds of people marched through Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, on Monday 2 November chanting 'Tinubu Must Go' and complaining about hunger and insecurity. The protest caused hours of traffic gridlock around Freedom Square. The organisers have not been publicly identified, and the police, the state government and the APC had not commented at the time of writing.

The protest started in the early hours of Monday at Freedom Square, a major junction that links key routes in Gusau, Leadership and Daily Post reported. Many of the protesters wore white T-shirts printed with 'TINUBU MUST GO', carried placards and leaves, and chanted songs, while a branded vehicle fitted with a public address system moved with the crowd. Women and young men took part, some of the men on motorcycles.

Motorists, tricycles and motorcycles were stuck in traffic for hours as the crowd blocked the road, Daily Post reported. 'We are tired of hunger, we are tired of killings, Tinubu must go, we need a better Nigeria,' one protester said in a video of the march. Security operatives were later seen trying to disperse the crowd to stop the protest from turning violent. National Daily reported that it had not been established whether anyone was arrested or injured.

Leadership said the organisers had not officially stated the reason for the protest, and National Daily said the people behind it and the number of participants had not been independently established. Daily Post said neither the Zamfara State Government nor the police had issued a statement. ST Office did not find a response from the Presidency or the APC in trusted outlets at the time of writing.

Zamfara is one of the North-West states worst hit by banditry, kidnappings and attacks on rural communities. The protest comes as campaigns for the January 2027 general elections pick up across the country. Online, videos of the march were shared widely on Monday, with some users saying it showed anger over insecurity and the cost of living, and others questioning who organised and paid for the branded T-shirts and vehicle.

Pidgin: Plenty people waka for Gusau, Zamfara on Monday dey shout 'Tinubu Must Go', dey complain about hunger and killings. Traffic hold for hours for Freedom Square. Nobody know who organise am yet, and police, government and APC never talk anything. If you wan protest, do am peacefully and keep yourself safe.

How this affects you: Nigeria's constitution (Section 40) protects the right to assemble peacefully, and the Court of Appeal ruled in 2007 that you do not need a police permit to hold a rally. That right covers peaceful protest only. If you join or find yourself near a protest, stay away from anyone carrying weapons, do not block ambulances, move away quickly if security operatives order the crowd to disperse, and keep a phone number for family or a lawyer. If you are stuck in traffic, find an alternative route rather than driving through a crowd. Treat claims about who sponsored any protest as claims until there is evidence.