AMILOADED MEDIA HUB NEWS UPDATE
No fewer than 14 protesters, including a policeman, yesterday lost their lives on the first day of the protest against hardship in the country.
Those killed included six at Suleja in Niger State; four in Maiduguri, Borno State; three in Kaduna State; and one in Kebbi State.
Aside from those killed during the protest, a curfew was also declared in Borno and Kaduna states, as the protests, which started on a peaceful note, turned violent later.
Clashes between the police and protesters were equally recorded in Abuja, 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.
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.
Police Public Relations Officer of the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the development, said eleven persons had already been arrested and that the highway was now free for traffic.
The PPRO said in a statement: “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 it ablaze, two cars were also burnt and two other 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 recovered.’’
4 killed at Kime filling station in Maiduguri
In Maiduguri, Borno State, four persons said to be staff of Kime filling station around Bolori junction of the metropolis, lost their lives to the protest.
At press time yesterday, the victims were still in the pool of their blood, even as video of the killings were viral on social media.
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