Nigeria protests: Curfew imposed and shots fired in Kano crackdown on ‘hunger’ demonstrators

A curfew has been imposed in Nigeria’s second-biggest state, Kano, after protests towards the excessive price of dwelling have been “hijacked by thugs” who engaged in widespread looting and the destruction of property, the governor’s workplace has stated.

Kano noticed the most important crowds on the primary day of nationwide protests that pressured many companies to close.

Demonstrators in all main cities took to the streets, chanting slogans similar to: “We’re hungry.”

Police fired reside bullets and tear fuel – and sprayed sizzling water – to attempt to disperse 1000’s of demonstrators in Kano metropolis. 4 individuals have been wounded, and brought to hospital.

Protesters had earlier set alight tyres to make a bonfire in entrance of the home of state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Looters additionally broke right into a warehouse close to his home and other people have been seen carrying away 25-litre cartons of vegetable cooking oil and mattresses.

The curfew successfully bars protests from persevering with, with all residents anticipated to stay at residence.

The final census in Nigeria, in 2006, put Kano state’s inhabitants at 9.4 million, with unofficial estimates placing its present inhabitants at round 20 million.

The protests – referred to as for 10 days – have been organised by way of social media and impressed by the current success of protesters in Kenya who pressured the federal government to scrap plans to extend taxes.

Mr Yusuf’s spokesman stated the protests have been peaceable in Kano, however the governor was pressured to declare a curfew to “restore order and make sure the security of our communities” due to “rampant looting, destruction of property and violence” unleashed by “thugs”.

On Wednesday night time, a courtroom ordered that protesters within the capital, Abuja, preserve to the Nationwide stadium, which is positioned on the town’s outskirts.

However after gathering on the stadium’s gate on Thursday morning, the demonstrators – who’ve additionally been shouting the chorus “Finish unhealthy governance” – started heading into the town centre.

This prompted police to fireside tear-gas cannisters to attempt to cease the procession, which affected visitors.

The safety forces have been deployed at strategic places inside the capital, the place even banks are closed, and in surrounding cities.

In Lagos, Nigeria’s financial hub, protesters shouted “ole”, that means “thief” within the Yoruba language – in reference to President Bola Tinubu and his authorities.

Many are angered by President Tinubu’s removing of a subsidy on gasoline – introduced with speedy impact throughout his inauguration speech in Could 2023.

It was aimed toward slicing authorities expenditure, however despatched pump costs hovering with a ripple impact on different items.

“High on our demand is the subsidy removing. The federal government ought to reverse that call,” Abuja protester Abiodun Sanusi informed the BBC.

Additionally they need the federal government to hold out wide-ranging reforms to the nation’s electoral system and the judiciary.

Earlier than this so-called “day of rage”, the federal government appealed to Nigerians to not take to the streets and provides the president time for insurance policies to bear fruit.

However Lagos protester Kingsley Uadiale dismissed this saying, “Starvation is the explanation why we’re all right here. You possibly can’t beat a child and ask the newborn to not cry.”

If the Tinubu administration needed persistence then, he stated, they need to lead by instance.

“You possibly can’t inform us to be affected person and also you’re buying a personal jet,” he stated, citing plans to purchase new planes price hundreds of thousands of {dollars} for Mr Tinubu and his deputy Kashim Shettima.

Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, an activist additionally protesting in Lagos, stated the goal of the demonstration was to get the worth hikes on important commodities reversed.

“In the event that they don’t yield, we’ll proceed to protest,” she informed the BBC

Further reporting from BBC reporters Zaharadeen Lawal in Kano, Chris Ewokor in Abuja & Simi Jolaoso in Lagos.