Protests against bad governance in northern Nigeria turned violent on Thursday, with multiple cities reporting incidents of looting, vandalism, and clashes with security forces.
In Kaduna, a police officer was shot by suspected hoodlums during the protest and is receiving treatment at the Nigerian Army Referral Hospital.
The state government has denied imposing a 24-hour curfew, despite reports to the contrary. Twenty-five suspected hoodlums were arrested, and several government offices and a residential house were attacked and looted.
In Jigawa State, at least three people were killed and others injured when police fired teargas to disperse hoodlums who had infiltrated the protest.
Several buildings, including a store belonging to the Jigawa State Agricultural Supply Company, a private house, and the residence of a political leader, were vandalised and looted.
In Dutse, the state capital, the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress was set on fire by hoodlums, who also destroyed billboards and promotional materials.
In Kano, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) office in Kano, set for inauguration on 7th August, was invaded.
The rioters vandalised offices, looting equipment and gadgets and set the generator house on fire. The State government declared a 24-hour curfew to restore order.
The protests also turned violent in Yobe, Gombe, Nasarawa, Niger and Borno, with protesters torching government buses in Yobe. Sixteen persons were reportedly killed in Borno.
The Borno and Yobe State governments also imposed a 24-hour curfew to mitigate the escalating violence.
In the nation’s capital Abuja, angry protesters also took to the streets, chanting “End bad governance” and “we are hungry.” They defied security agents trying to control the crowds, but the protest was largely nonviolent.
The protests, which would continue until 10th August and dubbed “10 days of rage” are in response to high living costs and perceived poor governance.
On social media, #EndBadGovernance, #AkpabioMustGo, and #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, are trending as a result of the protest.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had irked the protesters. On Wednesday, he kicked them, saying they should go ahead with the planned protest while they (government officials) would be in their homes “eating” (enjoying the dividends of the Tinubu’s administration).
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