Today, Nigerians across the nation take to the streets massively as they protest hunger and economic hardship under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Several human rights groups and activists including Femi Falana, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Deji Adeyanju; former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, the Take It Back movement and many others called for a nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance in the country.
Gunshots Fired as Protesters Loot Shops, Gov’t Properties in Kano
The protesters were demonstrating against hunger and bad governance in the country.
They had gathered from various parts of the city and were seen looting shops and supermarkets.
The yet-to-be-commissioned Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park was also looted.
Earlier in the day, protesters set up a bonfire at the Kano Government House, amidst reports of violence in various parts of the city.
They demanded that the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf must address them.
The Governor had earlier on Wednesday warned of potential troublemakers.
According to him, intelligence revealed that evil-minded individuals were planning to hijack the protest.
He invited genuine protesters to gather at Government House, Kano, while issuing a stern warning to troublemakers to stay away from the state.
Security operatives fired gunshots to disperse protesters in Kano State on Thursday morning.
In FCT, Abuja: Protesters March To Presidential Villa
Several protesters are marching towards the Central Business District and Presidential Villa, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Hundreds of the protesters, mostly northern youths, are currently marching from Berger Junction and Wuse Market towards the Central Business District.
“We are marching to the (Presidential) Villa. Bad governance must end,” one of the protesters said.
The protest had led to the shutdown of most shops and banks at the Wuse Market.
Meanwhile, security operatives have been stationed around Wuse Market and Berger Junction.
Earlier, it was reported that the police fired tear gas at protesters at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Security Operatives Battle Protesters In Abuja
Security agencies are currently experiencing difficulty in controlling the activities of protesters in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Naija News reports that the protesters barricaded the main Lokoja-Abuja Expressway, preventing vehicular movement in the area and smashing the cars plying the route.
Also, the main road around Dagiri, Wazobia Park, and SDP Junction were all blocked.
However, a combined force of security operatives, which includes the police, army, civil defense and Local vigilantes, were deployed to the area to chase the protesters away.
Protesters Shot Dead In Niger State
Six protesters have been reportedly shot dead, with many others sustaining injuries in the ongoing hardship protest in Suleja, Niger State.
Naija News learnt that the victims were killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway, trapping motorists for several hours.
However, an uproar occurred after the arrival of the reinforcement team, which was sent to restore sanity to the area.
A resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, identified as Yahaya Nda Isah, was reportedly hit by a stray bullet while on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division, where protesters had assembled.
A nephew of the deceased who spoke the media said his uncle was on his bike without joining the ongoing protest when the bullet fired to disperse the protesters hit him on his chest, and he died on the spot.
He said, “He was my uncle. He was not even protesting. He was passing in front of the Police ‘A’ division where some people were protesting when stray Bullet hit him on his chest and he died. As I speak with you, I am in his house alongside other mourners. It’s unfortunate.”
Another victim identified as Mallam Abu also said died on the spot with three other people shot at the same scene while 2 others were shot at the Suleja Junction on Abuja-Kaduna road.
Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said some hoodlums also attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, but security operatives dispersed them.
He said, “The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, they were dispersed by the Police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate was cleared.”
Police Declare 24-Hour Curfew In Borno As Protesters Go Berserk Over Gunshots, Teargas
The Borno State Police Command has imposed a 24-hour curfew amid the nationwide hunger protest.
Naija News reports that the declaration was made after many protesters went berserk at the Bulunkutu area, in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Thursday as the police officers fired teargas to disperse them.
According to reports, the angry protesters, in their hundreds, mounted roadblocks, preventing vehicular movement and breaking windscreens of private and commercial vehicles that insisted on passing.
Reacting to the development, the State Police Command Spokesperson, Nahum Kenneth Daso, in a statement, said the curfew was based on security concerns and the bomb explosion which happened on Wednesday.
Daso said the curfew was declared in the interest of peace and urged residents of the state to remain calm and law-abiding.
The statement read, “In view of the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security and law enforcement agencies toward preservation of law and order in the state. You are all aware of the incident that took place at kawori which was the detonation of improvise explosive devices ordinance device which lead to the death of (16) persons while several others were critically injured and on admission across various Government hospitals in the state.
“In line with our constitutional mandate towards the restoration of law and order, His Excellency, the executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum in consultation with heads of security in the state, finds its expedient to declare 24hrs curfew in the state with immediate effect.
“I therefore, wish to call upon the good people of Borno State to remain calm and law abiding. Further developments will be communicated to you accordingly please.”
Lagos: Police Disperse Protesters With Tear Gas At Lekki Toll Gate
Meanwhile, protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos State have fled as security forces fired teargas to disperse them.
The protest is occurring under tight security surveillance, with officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and other units strategically positioned around the toll gate.
A security official instructed the protesters to relocate to designated protest areas. When the protesters refused, the police responded with tear gas to scatter the crowd.
This incident follows a Lagos State High Court decision on Tuesday that restricted protesters to specific locations within the state.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, in response to an ex parte application filed by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), ruled that protests should be confined to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.
The young men and women protesting were seen chanting anti-government songs, carrying placards with the inscriptions: “Ba ma yi”, “Tinubu must go”, “End the bad governance” and “there is hunger”.
One of the protesters, identified as Muhammad, who spoke with the publication above, said the teargas would not deter them, or even gunshots, while exercising their constitutional right to protest.
He said, “We want the world to know the kind of injustice meted against us by the police. They shoot teargas at us while conducting our peaceful protest and that would not deter us.”
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