1 month ago
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A disturbing number of casualties, looting and destruction of public properties were recorded on Day 1 of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, across Nigerian states.
Recall that the protests were ignited by a crisis in the cost of living, linked to the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira.
Properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira were looted and wrecked, with almost twenty people reportedly killed in major cities across several states during the demonstrations.
Additionally, opportunistic individuals exploited the situation to steal valuable assets from both the public and private sectors.
Naija News reports that despite several pleas by the President Bola Tinubu government, as well as traditional and religious leaders and warnings by security operatives, the organizers of the protest went ahead to converge across major locations to carry out their demonstrations.
However, the supposed peaceful protest turned violent, and hoodlums hijacked the demonstration while protesters also clashed with security operatives in some cases.
Furthermore, the protests caused widespread disruption to business operations, resulting in the closure of shops, financial institutions, and other establishments, while commuters faced prolonged delays due to road blockages.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), clashes occurred between supporters and opponents of the protest in various locations.
For example, as protesters gathered at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, those organizing the event reportedly noticed buses transporting groups opposed to the protest.
Below are details of tragedies recorded on Day 1 of the Hunger Protest:
Protest In Niger State
It was reported that at least six protesters were shot dead, with many others sustaining injuries during the hunger protest in Suleja area of 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 with Daily Trust 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.
“We heard people shouting and gunshots were heard for about 20 minutes at Emir Roundabout. The situation in Suleja is ugly,” Bala Abdullahi, another resident, told reporters.
However, the spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement he issued, was silent on the deaths but said some hoodlums were arrested.
Protest In Maiduguri
Regrettably, four individuals lost their lives at Kime Filling Station, Bolori Junction in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday.
The station’s officials, who confirmed the deceased were their employees, provided varying explanations regarding the circumstances of their deaths.
“As I’m speaking to you now, they are still lying in the pool of their blood,” said one of the attendants, who gave his name as Malam Musa.
Musa, who confirmed that he was with the victims, said they died from an explosion.
“I nearly got affected, but as God would have it, I escaped unhurt”, he said.
However, another source, who pleaded anonymity, told reporters that stray bullets hit the deceased.
“I was opposite the filling station when the incident happened. There was nothing like a blast. We just heard sporadic gunshots and the boys were down. Four of them died instantly,” he said.
The Borno State Police Command, in collaboration with the Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, decided to implement a curfew following a consultation.
Naija News reports that this decision was made in response to a tragic bomb blast in Kawuri village, Konduga Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of 19 lives.
Protest In Kano
One Ismael Ahmad Musa tragically lost his life during the protest in Hotoro, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.
His passing was confirmed by his brother, Mubarak.
It remains uncertain whether he was actively participating in the protest.
He was laid to rest according to Islamic customs. Additionally, another individual who was struck by a stray bullet is currently fighting for survival at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
Naija News reports that there were incidents of looting of public stores and destruction of government properties in Kano during the protest on Thursday.
Videos and images shared online by different sources showed some citizens carting away electronics, food items and other materials from people’s shops.
More importantly, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) office in Kano was set ablaze during the protest.
A large number of youths, armed with dangerous weapons, took over major roads in Kano, leading to widespread unrest.
The newly constructed NCC office was scheduled for inauguration next week.
In addition to the arson attack on the NCC office, the Hotoro area saw all shops closed, and both a filling station and a Rufaida shop were set on fire.
Residents have called for immediate action from the authorities to restore order and protect lives and property in the state.
Isa Musa, a resident of Charanchi in Gwale Local Government Area, described the current situation as a threat to humanity and urged the police to deploy additional personnel to address the deteriorating security situation.
Protest In Jigawa
Meanwhile, in Hadejia city, two individuals were reported dead, and four others were taken to the hospital for treatment, as confirmed by residents.
Meanwhile, in the state capital of Dutse, one person was believed to have lost their life and five others were quickly transported to Rasheed Shekoni General Hospital for medical attention.
Kebbi Protest
The hunger protest remained peaceful in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State, but turned violent in Yauri, a prominent town in the state, where reports indicated that one individual was fatally shot while attempting to secure his shop from being plundered.
Numerous other shops were reportedly looted in the area.
Kaduna Protest
According to an eyewitness account reported by Daily Trust, two protesters were reportedly killed in Kaduna yesterday.
One of the victims was allegedly shot by security forces near the Government House. The eyewitness mentioned seeing one of the bodies near Panteka Market, close to the Government House.
A video clip obtained by newsmen depicted the tragic incident, showing one of the victims who died on the spot as security agents dispersed the protesters. In the video, screams could be heard from protesters indicating that one person was shot in the stomach.
The victim was identified as wearing a white T-shirt. Additionally, reports indicated that a police officer was critically injured during an attack by protesters near the Kaduna State Traffic and Environmental Law Enforcement Agency’s (KASTLEA) office.
However, it remains unclear whether the officer survived. Attempts to reach the State Police Command’s spokesman, Mansir Hassan, through phone calls and text messages were unsuccessful.
Abuja Protest
Yesterday, it was reported that a teenager was tragically killed by a stray bullet at the NNPC Junction at Kubwa, Abuja, along the Abuja-Zuba Expressway.
According to resident Sani Abdullahi, police officers arrived at the area around 2 pm and dispersed the protesters.
“The youths, however, reassembled around Zenith Bank junction in the area, pelting the security men who tried to open the inner streets for free movement.
“The security men fired shots into the air, and in the process, the victim, who is yet to be identified, was reportedly hit around his neck”, the resident said.
It was gathered that policemen took the victim’s body to the Kubwa General Hospital.
The FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, however, has not issued any official statement regarding the incident as at the time of filing this report.
NBA Vows To Probe Killings Of Protesters
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday confirmed the killings of some protesters in the Suleja area of Niger State, vowing to take action.
In response to the unfortunate event, Abdullahi Liman, the Chairman of the Suleja branch of the NBA, communicated with journalists via telephone, stating that he had visited the home of one of the victims, Yahaya Nda Isah, to gather reliable information for subsequent measures, as instructed by the national president of the NBA.
He said: “The national level of the NBA has asked all the branches to constitute monitoring committees in respect of the protest.
“So, we are going around to see what is really happening. I got information that a man was shot dead, and I came to the house of the victim (Yahaya Nda Isah) to confirm things for myself, and I have seen the corps.
“So, what we are doing now is to gather information in respect of the incident and I will reach out to the national level so that we know what to do next in respect of the issue. This cannot be denied.”
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