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.
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.
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.
Already, Police authorities have imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state, citing violence that escalated in the nationwide protests and the bomb blast that took place in Kawuri village of Konduga Local Government Area of the state which left 20 people dead and 16 injured less than 24 hours before commencement of the protest.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that the victims/workers of the filling station died from stray bullets, while another version revealed that there was no sign of bullets/gunshots on the victims.
Speaking to one of the filling station attendants, Baba Musa, in a telephone interview, said: “It was an explosion that took place and killed four persons instantly, while I managed to escape unhurt.”
Chairman of Independent Markerters Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Borno State branch, Alhaji Mohammed Kuluwu, confirmed the killing of four persons at Kime filling station in the afternoon, noting he had been been making contact with the Director of the affected station, but couldn’t get his phone line to ascertain details of what led to the killing of the victims.
But, some other witnesses insisted the victims were felled by stray bullets fired at protesters whose protest against hardship in the country had turned violent.
Protest turns violent in Kaduna, 3 feared killed, many injured, taken to hospitals
Similarly, the otherwise peaceful protest against bad governance in the country also turned violent in Kaduna, leaving no fewer than three youths dead and many other protesters injured.
An eyewitness said the number of protesters, mostly youths and the unemployed, which had outnumbered security operatives, marched from the Rigasa area and from the Abakwa end, towards the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the official residence and office of the state governor.
A surviving protester, who craved anonymity, said: “We were marching peacefully and no one was carrying any offensive weapon.
“I think the security operatives near Government House were threatened by our large number. Suddenly, a vehicle they use to spray hot water on protesters came speeding towards us from the Government House axis and sprayed us with hot water, then another security vehicle came on speed from the 44 Reference Hospital end.
“In the confusion that ensued and as we scampered to save ourselves from being hit by the security vehicles, three peaceful protesters were hit and they died. No one carried any weapon, we were just carrying placards and chanted slogans against bad governance.’’
Meanwhile, reports indicated that the office of the Kaduna State Traffic Agency, KASTLEA, was touched by the protesters.
Major streets in the state capital were deserted, while markets and shops were closed due to fears the protest might be hijacked by hoodlums.
Combat-ready policemen and other security operatives were stationed at potential flashpoints to forestall any eventuality.
Citizens, majority of who embarked on panic buying of foodstuffs and other essentials the previous day, had remained indoors and monitored happenings on local radio and television.
Schools and other vocational training institutions, also remained closed.
Spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, accused members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ites, of turning the peaceful protest violent.
He said they attacked a Police Armoured Personnel Carrier and some of their operatives, warning that the police would not allow hoodlums break law and order in Kaduna State.
He also clarified that the number of personnel deployed for the protest in the state was 2,500 and not 25,000 earlier reported, saying the command has arrested 25 suspects involved in attacking state-owned agencies.