Residents in Niger state on Monday staged a protest over the rising cost of living in the country.
As early as 7 a.m. in Minna, the state capital, a group of women blocked Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu roundabout to express their grievances over the rising cost of food items.
It was gathered that gunshots were fired by the police to disperse the protesting residents, who stopped all vehicles from moving.
According to reports, efforts by the police to control the crowd almost resulted in violence as protesters asked the police to leave, forcing the police to fire several shots in the air.
The Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who reacted to the protest, said the police had to apply minimum force to disperse the protesters, adding that the state’s deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba was also at the scene to help disperse the protesters.
“I woke up this morning with information that many people protesting blocked Bida road, obstructing motorists and causing people to be unable to go about their work. So we had to deploy there this morning.
“After so much persuasion, they refused to open the road, even the deputy Governor, His Excellency, was there to address them; we had to use minimum force to disperse the protesters, the road was opened, and there is a free flow of traffic now.”
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