Six youths have been killed and several others got injured during a hunger protest in Suleja, Niger State, which turned violent when police tried to disperse the protesters.
The youths began their protest around 11am, but things got out of hand when riot police, led by the Police Area Commander, tried to disperse them.
The police used tear gas to disperse the defiant youths, who retaliated by throwing stones, sticks, and other objects, resulting in the vandalization of a police vehicle.
The situation intensified, leading to the police firing live ammunition, which caused the deaths of six people, including Nda Isah.
In the Tafa Local Government Area, some youths attempted to burn down the secretariat, damaging its gates and fence. They however set ablaze a vehicle inside the secretariat while trying to loot the place.
They were said to have been prevented from looting by the soldiers and police mobilised to the scene.
Travellers were stranded for hours on the Suleja axis of the Abuja-Kaduna highway as the protesters blocked the road while carrying out their protest.
A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, did not confirm the shooting and the death of the protesters.
But Abiodun confirmed the vandalization of the Tafa local Government secretariat in Sabon-Wuse.
He said two cars were burnt; two others were vandalized and the secretariat was looted, adding that 11 persons were arrested over the vandalization.
“Following the nationwide protest slated to commence today 1st August 2024, unfortunately, this morning at about 0930hrs, some miscreants of Tafa area of Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State and that of Hayin-Diko Gurara LGA of Niger State mobilized and stormed Tafa LGA Secretariat of Niger State located along Abuja-Kaduna expressway, Sabon-Wuse Niger State.
“The hoodlums vandalized the Secretariat, partly set ablaze, two cars were also burnt and two others vandalized.
“They further looted valuables there-in, while the Police and other security agencies responded to the scene, and arrested eleven violent miscreants with different dangerous weapons, including firearms as others were dispersed from the scene and some of the looted items were recovered. “The police and other security agencies responded to the blockage of the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and old toll-gate, and the hoodlums were dispersed. “Presently, the expressway has been reopened for motorists and there is a free flow of traffic along the highway. However, investigation into the violent act has commenced to arrest other fleeing miscreants,” the statement said.
In Minna, the Niger State capital, residents deserted shops, markets, and roads in fear of the adverse effect of the protest. As at the time of filing this report, shops, plazas, and markets were not yet opened and there were few cars and people on the roads.
The popular Kpakungun Road and Mobile Road had little or no vehicular traffic on them.
The majority of the filling stations were not selling fuel.
All the banks within the Minna metropolis such as Access Bank, Heritage Bank, Zenith, FCMB and UBA were closed.
There was a heavy security presence at the Minna branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The security presence was heavy at every point. At Kpakungun roundabout which is known to be one of the hotspots in Minna had the presence of police, NSDC, and the Immigration Service operatives.
On Shiroro road, some eateries were available for service but the majority of the plazas on the road were shut.
The state and federal secretariats were opened but only a few civil servants were seen in their offices.
The Kure ultramodern market and the Kasuwan Gwari market were shut as no trader was seen in the market.
The Kasuwan Gwari which is a weekly Thursday market had no trader or goods on the ground.
