Nigerians protesting over hunger and hardship
By Abdullahi Abubakar
As the #EndBadGovernance and hunger protests go into the second day, scores of protesters and a policeman have reportedly feared dead.
About 17 persons were feared killed in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa during the protests.
One person was shot dead in Abuja and Kano, two killed in Jigawa, six others were reportedly gunned down by security forces in Niger, while four died in Borno and three in Kaduna.
The rally began peacefully but took a violent turn in some cities leading to violent confrontations between the police and the protesters.
Businesses, banks, shopping plazas and some markets did not open for fear of the protests escalating into a crisis.
In Abuja, the demonstration claimed a victim, who was shot dead along the Kubwa expressway.
An eyewitness, who identified herself as Ekaete, said the man, whose identity could not be immediately confirmed, was gunned down after the protesters became violent and blocked the highway.
The police also had another encounter with protesters at the Eagles Square, Three Arms Zone, located a few metres from the Presidential Villa.
A group of protesters converged on the Eagles Square, chanting the old “Arise, O Compatriots” national anthem and demanding an end to bad governance in the country.
In response, the security operatives fired a couple of teargas canisters to discourage the protesters, who only shouted back in defiance.
Clashes between the police and protesters were equally recorded in Delta and Bayelsa states but the protest was largely peaceful in Lagos, Oyo and Osun states.
At Suleja, where dozens of protesters also sustained injuries, victims were said to have been killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted barricades on a section of Abuja-Kaduna highway, entrapping hundreds of passengers and motorists for hours.
Some policemen who were around the barricade, could not control the youths who outnumbered them.
However, a reinforcement team was said to have been sent to the scene where pandemonium occurred.
Among those killed was said to be Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was hit by a stray bullet.
The bullet reportedly hit Isa on his bike in front of Suleja Police ‘A’ division where protesters had assembled.
A nephew of the deceased said his uncle was on his bike when the bullet fired to disperse protesters hit him on his chest and he died on the spot.
“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 a 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,” he said.
Another victim, simply identified as Mallam Abu, also died on the spot, having been hit by stray bullets.
One of the residents, who did not want his name in print, said three other people were shot at the same scene, while two others were shot at the Suleja Junction on Abuja-Kaduna road but could not confirm if other victims were dead.
Another resident, who said his shop was not far from the Suleja Police “A” Division, said he closed his shop and ran for his life.
“We heard people shouting and gunshots were heard for about 20 minutes at Emir Roundabout. The situation in Suleja is ugly,” said Bala Abdullahi, another resident.
Protesters burnt down Tafa local government secretariat, Sabon Wuse, along Kaduna-Abuja expressway at about 9:30 am.
Besides setting the secretariat ablaze, two cars were also burnt down, while two others were vandalized and valuables looted in the secretariat.
The development, it was gathered, created a traffic logjam along the ever-busy expressway before a combination of security agencies mobilized to the area and dispersed the miscreants.
In Abuja, many #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters feared injured after police dispersed them in Abuja on Friday.
The protesters had disregarded the warnings by policemen against holding a procession.
The police laid ambush for the protesters immediately after the National Hospital area and dispersed them with teargas and live ammunition
Speaking with journalists, five injured protesters criticised the police for their actions.
They claimed they had to jump into the bush when the police began firing live ammunition at them.
