Residents of Niger State, including both young people and women, have recently demonstrated in Minna, expressing their frustration over the increasing difficulties and cost of living they are experiencing.
The demonstrations began when a number of women obstructed the Minna-Bida Road at the well-known Kpakungu Roundabout, voicing their distress over the challenges faced during President Bola Tinubu's tenure. Their numbers were soon bolstered by the addition of men and young individuals, effectively halting traffic.
The protests took a notable turn on Monday morning as participants, particularly youths, vocalized their concerns in Hausa about the deteriorating state of the nation's economy under President Ahmed Tinubu's administration.
Despite the presence of police forces at the scene, the demonstrators remained undeterred, with some accusing the police of being mere extensions of the government and thus powerless to intervene.
During the protest, one of the participants, named Ibrahim Gana, highlighted the soaring prices of essential commodities like rice and maize in Minna, calling on the government to alleviate the hardships faced by the population, which he described as intolerable.
The police's efforts to calm the situation and detain some of the protestors were unsuccessful, as they were repelled by the determined youths.
Bystanders shared accounts of close calls with potential injuries as the protestors aggressively prevented them from carrying out their regular activities.
In response to the escalating situation, police resorted to deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd, a measure that proved ineffective in halting the demonstration.
The Niger State Police Command's spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, commented on the event, explaining that the police were compelled to use minimal force after attempts to negotiate and clear the road failed, despite intervention from the deputy governor. He assured that the road was eventually cleared, allowing for the resumption of normal traffic flow.
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