19 killed, many injured, property destroyed on day-1 EndBadGovt protests in Nigeria

The Day-one of the ongoing nationwide protest against hardship in Nigeria has resulted to the death of no fewer than 19 Nigerians, OsunReporters News gathered.

According to reports, the protest which started on Thursday was hijacked by hoodlums in some part of the country as youths staged protests across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja to register their grievances against government policies that have imposed untoward hardship on them.

The protest, which was projected to be peaceful, turned violent in some states including Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, FCT, Niger and Jigawa, leading to loss of lives and properties.

In Niger State, six death of protesters were recorded in Suleja, Niger State, while several others were injured when the anti-riot police, led by the Police Area Commander, tried to disperse them.

According to reports, the police used teargas to disperse the defiant youths, who retaliated by throwing stones, sticks, and other objects, resulting in the vandalization of a police vehicle with registration number NPF 9102C.

The retaliation from the protester didn’t go down well as the police operatives subsequently fired live ammunition, which caused the deaths of six people.

,,,,,,,In Borno State, Boko Haram insurgents infiltrate protest, killing 4, injured 34 in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital,

While confirming the ugly incident, Farouq Lawal, commissioner of police in Borno, thirty-four persons also sustained severe injuries in the incident.

The Commissioner, in a statement, said the commander of the explosive ordnance device (EOD), Base 13, was “swiftly” deployed to the scene.

According to him, “injured and deceased were transported to Specialist Hospital Maiduguri for medical attention and autopsy.

“The protest, which involved minors, primarily almajiris aged 9–15, escalated into violence. Protesters took over the Maiduguri-Kano road at the Mala Kachalla Roundabout, linking the Borno Express Flyover”.

In Kaduna State, three protesters and one security operative were reportedly killed in Kaduna State when the protest turned violent when the protesters marched from the Rigasa area and from the Abakwa end, moving towards the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the official residence and office of the state Governor.

According to an eyewitness, “suddenly, a vehicle, that they use in spraying 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, 3 peaceful protesters were hit and they died. No one carried any weapon, we were just….carrying placards and chanted slogans against bad governance”.

In Jigawa State, two killed as Police reportedly fire live ammunition to protesters leading to the unfortunate death of at least two protesters in the protest took place in over 10 LGAs across the state, with reports of destruction and looting of government property.

It was reported that in Dutse, the state capital, one of the protesters was shot dead in front of Government House, while the other was killed at Shiwarin town when the protesters attempted to close the Maiduguri-Kano Road.

The protesters also set ablaze the All Progressives Congress, APC, headquarters and burnt party vehicles in Dutse, the state capital.

In Kano state, three reportedly killed, as govt imposes 24-hour curfew

It was reported that one of the protesters was gunned down by a police officer in front of the gate leading to the government house during the exercise, while two others were also said to have been killed while attempting to flee the protest location, where the earlier fatal shooting happened.

Properties belonging to both the government and private individuals were vandalized by the protesters.

In FCT, protesters stone police officers during the violent protest as hoodlums reportedly hijacked the exercise causing tension in the territory.

According to Police Public Relations Officer, FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, the protest was taken over by hoodlums as protesters were throwing stones at the operatives of the command, the PPRO said, “protest has been taken over by hoodlums.

He said: “The protesters have been throwing stones at police officers. Hoodlums have hijacked the protest and this is the concern we had raised earlier”.

At the time of filing this report, protesters were preparing for the Day-2 of the 10-Day protest, while Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has place every unit on red alert.