The hunger protests have turned violent in many states of the Northern Nigerian as protesters turned to looters shortly after the take off of the anti-government rallies on Thursday. The protests, organised by Nigerians to call attention of the local government and the international community to growing economic woes of the citizens, had opened well in the early hours of the day......READ THE FULL STORY>>.....READ THE FULL STORY>>
However, by noon, reports of skirmishes began to emerge mostly in the Northern parts of the country.
In Kano, protesters broke into government properties and carted away valuables.
In Yobe, government vehicles were set ablaze in Potiskum, Nguru and Damaturu.
The government imposed a curfew and ordered security agencies to enforce the order.
In Abuja, protesters went wild at the Dutse Bwari areas of the Federal Capital Territory burning structures in sight.
In Kano, protesters broke into the facility of the National Communication Commission and carted away critical infrastructure.
The protesters also broke into the Government House. Attempts to dislodge them with water tanks failed as many of them defied the hot water spray.
As the police sprayed on them the hot water, one voice seen behind a video kept shouting “Ga ruwan shafi” See hot water they are pouring on us.
In Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, young men who had converged on the Maiduguri-Kano Highway, blocked the road causing serious gridlock.
Not even the arrival of the policemen deployed to quell the riot succeeded in asking the protesters to quit.
The protesters threw stones and sticks at the officers causing an escalation of the situation.
Policemen had to fire teargas to disperse the menacing advancement of the crowd, causing chaos and prompting the demonstrators to scatter in search of safety.
Despite the heavy smoke and continued efforts by the security personnel to push back the protesters, they remained defiant, continuing to sing and chant slogans criticising the government.
In Kaduna, the police arrested about 25 suspects who they said were targeting to burn down some facilities before they were apprehended.
The Command’s Spokesman, ASP Mansir Hassan, said the arrests on Monday, noting that some of the apprehended individuals are members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).
Among the items recovered from the suspects were an AK-47 rifle, live ammunition, a jackknife, and a police camouflage uniform. Some of the arrested individuals were found in possession of these items, raising concerns about the extent of the planned violence.
