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Police arrest instigator, 24 others for protesting against hunger, economic hardship
Story from Hamzat Ibrahim ABAGA
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has apprehended 25 suspects following a recent demonstration in Minna, Niger State.
The protest, which occurred on Monday, saw demonstrators block the Minna-Bada Road and Kpakungu roundabout to voice their grievances about the escalating food costs across the nation.
According to Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Command of the Force, the arrest included the protest’s instigator, Aisha Jibrin, and several others.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Abiodun detailed the events, stating that the demonstrators obstructed the highway, impeding the movement of motorists, travelers, and other road users.
READ ALSO: Protest erupts in Niger State over hunger, high cost of living
Abiodun revealed that despite efforts by law enforcement, including the intervention of the Deputy Governor of Niger State, the protesters remained unyielding and resorted to violence.
Consequently, the police employed minimal force to disperse the unruly crowd, who retaliated by attacking the officers with various weapons, damaging police vehicles, and the Kpakungu Division roof.
The seized weapons, as listed by Abiodun, included knives, scissors, cutlasses, and other dangerous items.
During interrogation, Aisha Jibrin claimed ignorance of the illegality of her actions, alleging that she had informed a local youth leader of their plans, who allegedly failed to notify the authorities.
Abiodun asserted that the suspects would face prosecution following the completion of investigations.
All detainees were transported to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, urged the public to seek lawful channels for addressing grievances rather than resorting to violence or self-help.
“The command immediately drafted police patrol teams led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations DCP Shehu Umar Didango, to the scene, and after much persuasion by the police, the protesters deliberately refused to clear the road for public use, while His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, equally availed himself at the scene and addressed the group, yet they turned deaf ears and chose to be violent.
“However, the police adopted minimum force to disperse the protesters who turned violent by attacking the police with dangerous weapons such as stones, bottles, sticks, cutlasses, and damaged police patrol vehicles and parts of the Kpakungu Division roof.
“In the course of this, the police arrested the initiators of the protest one Aisha Jibrin 30yrs, Fatima Aliyu 57yrs, Fatima Isyaku 43yrs all of Soje ‘A’ of Kpakungu area of Minna, and twenty-two other miscreants with the following dangerous weapons; one iron pipe, four sticks, two wraps of Indian hemp, charms, etc.
“During interrogation, the said Aisha claimed that she was not aware that her action was illegal by mobilising over one hundred women and miscreants to block the highway for a violent protest.
“She claimed further that she informed one youth leader, Hassan, in the area, who promised to inform the police of their plan to protest but did not do so.
“Meanwhile, all suspects were taken to SCID Minna for investigation, and they will be charged to court for prosecution as efforts are ongoing to arrest other identified members of the violent protest,” Mr Abiodun added.
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