August 1 Protest: Several Protesters Reportedly Shot Dead In Niger

At least six people have reportedly been killed, and several others injured in ongoing protests in Suleja, Niger State.

The casualties occurred as security operatives attempted to disperse a group of protesters who had blocked a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

This blockade caused passengers and motorists to be trapped on the road for hours. Initially, the policemen present were unable to control the crowd, which vastly outnumbered them.

A reinforcement team was later dispatched to the scene, where chaos ensued. Among the deceased was Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was struck by a stray bullet while riding his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ Division, where the protesters had gathered. According to a nephew of the deceased, Yahaya was not part of the protest; he was simply passing by when the stray bullet hit him in the chest, killing him instantly.

Another victim, identified as Mallam Abu, also died on the spot. A local resident reported that three other people were shot at the same scene, while two others were shot at the Suleja Junction on the Abuja-Kaduna road, but the resident could not confirm if these victims had died.

Another local, whose shop is near the Suleja Police ‘A’ Division, described the situation as chaotic, with gunshots heard for about 20 minutes at the Emir Roundabout.

The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, reported that some hoodlums attempted to set the Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) ablaze but were dispersed by police and military forces. “The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze; they were dispersed by the police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate were cleared,” he said.

When contacted, Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger, said, “Let me verify and get back to you.” However, he had not provided a response by the time of filing this report.