More than 17 persons were feared killed in the first day of the 10-day nationwide protest against bad governance on Thursday in Nigeria.
The deaths were recorded in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa states in northern Nigeria during the protest.
According to the report by the Punch newspaper on Friday, one person was shot dead in Abuja and Kano, two killed in Jigawa, six others were reportedly gunned down by security forces in Niger, while four died in Borno and three in Kaduna.
The report added that the protest began peacefully, but took a violent turn in some cities leading to violent confrontations between the police and the protesters.
On Thursday, businesses, banks, shopping plazas and some markets did not open for fear that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, says a policeman was murdered while on duty during the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests on Thursday.
Addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Mr. Egbetokun, said that some of his men were also injured by hoodlums who disguised as protesters, but did not confirm the others deaths recorded across the country on Thursday.
Egbetokun also said that some police stations in the country were razed by rampaging rioters and that the events in major cities on Thursday were “mass uprising and looting, not protests”.
According to him, the leaders of the protests were not around to lead the rallies despite the initial warnings of the police and that the hoodlums took over the protests.
“Police stations have been destroyed. There have been attempts to take over government houses,” Egbetokun said, adding that looting of public and private warehouses and facilities was widespread.
“In places like Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, among others, we recorded incidents of unprovoked attacks on our security personnel where one policeman has been reported murdered and others seriously injured.
“In light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to public safety and order,” he said.
GIK/APA
Nigeria: 17 persons feared killed in #Endbadgovernance protest
