Hunger protest turns bloody as police gun down six protesters In Niger
The Nigerian police, Niger State command reportedly shot six protesters dead, leaving many others with various injuries in the ongoing hunger protest in Suleja.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) learnt that the policemen who were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway, shot the victims, killing them at an instant.
The incident led to an outrage as protesters struggled with the reinforcement team, which was sent to restore sanity to the area.
A resident identified as Yahaya Nda Isah, was reportedly hit by a stray bullet while on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division, where protesters had assembled.
A nephew of the deceased told Daily Trust disclosed that the deceased which was his uncle, did not join the protest and was on his bike when the bullet fired to disperse the protesters hit him on his chest, and he died on the spot.
He said, “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 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.”
Another victim identified as Mallam Abu reportedly died on the spot with three other people shot at the same scene while 2 others were shot at the Suleja Junction on Abuja-Kaduna road.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, a Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, said some hoodlums also attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, but security operatives dispersed them.
He said, “The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, they were dispersed by the Police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate was cleared.”