A protest that began on Saturday night continued into Sunday morning in Minna, Niger State, leading to a tense situation in parts of the state capital. Hundreds of youths took to the streets following an alleged shooting of one of them by a member of a vigilante group during an altercation while on night patrol. The incident reportedly triggered a chain reaction, leading to the deaths of two other persons during the protest.
According to eyewitnesses, the youths mobilized shortly after news filtered in that one of their members, identified as Aliyu, had been killed. The protest began at about 10 pm on Saturday and continued into Sunday morning, during which two more persons were reportedly killed. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two other persons remained unclear as the situation had become increasingly chaotic.
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, saying that vigilante men had mobilized to the Kpakungu area to arrest some miscreants and, in the process, one of the vigilant members shot Aliyu dead. This led to some protests within the area, but police were mobilized to the location, and normalcy was restored.
However, on the early hours of Sunday, October 4, 2026, some of the miscreants mobilized and blocked the Bida-Minna road in the name of protest, also moved to the Gbeganu area, and attacked residents in the area. In the course of the attack, it was reported that two persons lost their lives. Police were drafted to the area, the rioters were dispersed, and the road was cleared for free flow of traffic.
A resident of the area, Mallam Baba, described the situation as tense and chaotic, saying that the youths had become increasingly aggressive and unruly. He called for calm and urged the authorities to take steps to address the underlying issues that led to the protest.
The police have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to arrest the vigilante man who shot Aliyu dead. The incident has sparked widespread concern, with many calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the subsequent violence.
The Minna protest is the latest in a series of incidents of unrest in Niger State, and the authorities have been urged to take steps to address the underlying issues driving the protests. The situation remains tense in Minna, with residents calling for calm and an end to the violence.
Key points
- Three persons were killed during a protest in Minna, Niger State, on October 4, 2026.
- The protest was sparked by the alleged shooting of a youth by a vigilante group member during an altercation.
- The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that efforts are ongoing to arrest the vigilante man who shot the youth dead.
