Some Niger State protesters who attempted to invade the Suleja Modern Market over the alleged killing of six protesters on the first day of the protests were stopped by soldiers detailed to prevent violence and vandalization.
According to the PUNCH, the protesters, on Monday, attempted to invade the market and unleash terror on the marketers to avenge the killing of protesters but were resisted by soldiers.
The planned nationwide protest in Niger State started in Suleja Local Government Area, and the town has remained the epicentre of the ongoing nationwide protest in the state.
On the first day of the protest, it turned bloody when six people were killed and several others injured.
It was reported that the Monday protest was informed by the killing of the six protesters.
While the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said that no protester was killed during the August 1 protests, the protesters insisted that six people were killed while over 15 people were injured during an encounter with the police.
The police spokesman stated, “The Niger State Police Command wishes to respond to a report in some online media that six persons lost their lives during the violent protest in the Tafa/Suleja area of Niger State, which is untrue.
The Command, therefore, re-emphasized as earlier stated that violent miscreants stormed the Tafa LGA Secretariat, looted, vandalized, and partly set the building ablaze. Vehicles were damaged and burnt while security agencies responded, made arrests, and dispersed the hoodlums.
“During this process, there was no loss of life, and there was no report of such as the violent protesters were dispersed with the use of minimum force. However, some miscreants were mildly injured during a stampede and most of them were taken to different medical facilities for treatment”.
