Six youths died while several others were 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 11 am, but things escalated when the anti-riot police, led by the Police Area Commander, tried to disperse them.
The police used teargas to disperse the defiant youths, who retaliated by throwing stones, sticks, and other objects, resulting in the vandalization of a police vehicle with registration number NPF 9102C.
The situation intensified, leading to the police firing live ammunition, which caused the deaths of six people, including Nda Isah.
In Tafa local government area, youths attempted to burn down the Secretariat, damaging its gates and fence. Inside the Secretariat, they burned a vehicle while trying to loot the premises.
They were, however, prevented from looting when the Army and Police mobilized to the scene.
Hundreds of travelers were stranded for hours at the Suleja axis of the Abuja-Kaduna highway as the protesters blocked the free flow of movement on a section of the road while carrying out their protest.
The deaths and injuries have not been confirmed by the Police as a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun did not address the shooting of the protesters or the death of any protesters.
Abiodun confirmed the vandalization of the Tafa local government secretariat in Sabon-Wuse saying that two cars were burnt, two were vandalized and the Secretariat was looted saying that 11 persons were arrested regarding the vandalization of the secretariat.
“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 read.
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 where there has been traffic have little or no cars on them. The majority of the filling stations were not selling fuel. All the banks within the Minna metropolis like Access Bank, Heritage Bank, Zenith, FCMB, UBA, and others were closed. There was a heavy security presence at the Minna branch of the Central Bank.
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.
At Shiroro road, some eateries were opened for service but the majority of the plazas on the road were shut down. The state and federal Secretariat were opened but only a few civil servants were seen inside their offices.
The Kure ultramodern market and the Kasuwan Gwari market were shut down 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.