Nigeria, June 13 -- Some persons suspected to be hired thugs on Thursday disrupted a peaceful protest in Akure, Ondo State, staged against the hardship and insecurity in the country.

The protesters, early on Thursday, massed at the popular Cathedral junction, First Bank Area and at the 'A' Division, before thugs arrived.

The thugs disrupted the gathering without any police intervention or restraint, raising suspicion that they were sponsored.

Organisers alleged that the police may have a hand in the disruption, an allegation the Force denied.

The peaceful protest aimed to raise public awareness of citizens' rights to democratic participation and to speak out against bad governance.

A former presidential candidate of the African Actio...