14 feared killed as hunger protest enters second day

At least 14 people have lost their lives as a protest against the rising cost of living in Nigeria enters a second day. 

Organisers have labelled the nationwide demonstrations as ’10 Days of Rage’ and #EndBadGovernance.

Africa’s most populous nation has been grappling with a cost of living crisis since President Bola Tinubu ended the petrol subsidy regime in 2023.

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19 percent in June 2024 — up from 33.95 percent in May.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said food inflation surged to 40.87 percent in the month under review as prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages soared.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.40% points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2023, which was 22.79%,” the bureau had said.

Fourteen deaths have so far been recorded in the federal capital territory (FCT), Niger, Borno, Jigawa, and Kaduna states.

DEATHS

In Borno, four persons were killed when suspected Boko Haram members infiltrated a procession. 

Farouq Lawal, commissioner of police in Borno, said 34 sustained various degrees of injuries.

Thereafter, a curfew was imposed, with Lawal adding that “normalcy has returned” to Maiduguri.

Two people were reportedly killed when the demonstrations turned violent in Suleja, Niger state.

Sadiq Suleja, a candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the Suleja federal constituency in the last election, said seven people were shot by security operatives, but two died.

The protesters were attacked by some “political thugs” who attempted to hijack the marches along the Suleja Club area of the state.

In Kano and Jigawa, mass looting and vandalism were recorded which led to the death of three people.

Kano saw the invasion of the government house and the destruction of a yet-to-be inaugurated Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) facility.

Three people lost their lives in Kaduna. The protest in the north-western state turned ugly after a group of suspected hoodlums attempted to invade the government house.

They were dispersed after security operatives fired teargas.

In the FCT, one person was reportedly killed.

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said a police officer was murdered during the protest.

The IGP did not say where the incident occurred.

USINESSES SHUT

Most businesses across the country have been shuttered since the protest began on August 1.

In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, banks, offices, and markets were closed on the first day of the demonstrations.

The scenario was replicated in the FCT and Kaduna, where businesses remained closed or partially opened for fear of the unknown.

The Cable