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Niger State: Protest turned bloody, Six killed many injured, properties looted. By Ladidi Al-Hassan
The protest turned bloody in Suleja Niger State where six protesters died while several others sustained various degree of injuries, as police tried to disperse the protesters when the protest turned violent
The protest started peacefully around 11 am, but things suddenly turn violent with the youth making burn fire on the road and the anti-riot police, led by the Police Area Commander, used teargas to disperse the defiant youths, who retaliated by throwing stones, sticks, and other objects, resulting in the vandalization of a police vehicle
As the situation got worse and out of control, the police fired live ammunition, which caused the deaths of six people.
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 number of deaths and injured are yet to be confirmed by the Police as a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun refuse to talk about 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.
