Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has attributed Monday morning’s hunger protest in Minna, the state capital, to the activities of food speculators.
He accused them of “mopping up foodstuffs from local markets,” causing shortages and price hikes.
Addressing reporters in the Council Chamber at Government House Minna on Monday afternoon, Governor Bago stated, “On the early hours of Monday, some unidentified hoodlums mobilised women and youths to block some food trucks passing through Minna along the Minna-Bida road with an intent to cart away the foodstuffs, but the timely intervention of security agencies thwarted their plans.”
He further disclosed, “Similar attempts were made on other trucks conveying food supplies through the state in Mokwa and Lapai Local Government areas before security agencies stepped in and diverted the trucks.”
Governor Bago announced the issuance of an executive order to curb the activities of food speculators.
He declared, “I have decided to issue an executive order effective today (Monday, February 5, 2024) to stop food speculators from invading our local markets with a view to mopping up farm produce.”
Furthermore, he added, “By this order, any truck found in any rural market coming to load food supplies in bulk will be confiscated and the produce auctioned out immediately until further notice.”
The Governor attributed the rising food prices and inflation to the “unscrupulous activities of those who are deliberately subverting the efforts of the state government to control the rising costs of food prices in the state.”
Regarding the arrests made during the protest, Governor Bago confirmed, “A number of arrests have been made over the protest that rocked Minna, the state capital, on Monday,” but he refused to disclose details.
He assured, “They will be arranged in court after the conclusion of the preliminary investigation by the security agencies.”
