The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, which began today across various locations nationwide, have escalated into violence in several northern cities, ABS News reports.
In Suleja, Niger State, six protesters were killed and many others injured as security forces attempted to clear a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna road. According to our correspondents and sources, the initial group of policemen at the scene was overwhelmed by the number of protesters. Reinforcements were called in, leading to chaotic scenes and sporadic gunfire.
Meanwhile, in Kano, protesters looted the newly built but yet-to-be-commissioned Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) center, which was scheduled for inauguration next week, was raided and set ablaze. Witnesses reported seeing youths carting away desktop computers, chairs, keyboards, and other equipment.
Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, expressed his dismay over the incident on social media platform X: “Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters. Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week.”
The protests have also turned violent in other states, including Yobe, Lagos, Borno, and Gombe, where police have reportedly used teargas to disperse peaceful demonstrators.
The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, also referred to as #HungerProtests, were organized to express widespread dissatisfaction with the country’s economic situation and the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The demonstrations are scheduled to continue from August 1 to 10, 2024.
