A violent protest erupted in Minna, Niger State, on Sunday after a local vigilante shot and killed a man, Aliyu, in Kpakungu, a suburb of the state capital. The incident occurred on Saturday night at around 10:30pm when vigilantes mobilized to arrest suspected miscreants in the area. According to the Niger State Police Command, one of the vigilante members shot Aliyu dead during the attempt to arrest the suspects.
The killing of Aliyu sparked a violent protest, with over 100 youths taking to the streets and blocking the busy Minna-Bida highway. The protesters disrupted traffic, forcing commercial activities in the area to a standstill. Early-morning worshippers and commuters were stranded, while residents scampered for safety as the unrest spread. The protest quickly escalated, with the youths moving towards Gbeganu, another part of the metropolis, where residents were attacked and shops allegedly looted.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed that the crisis began with the shooting of Aliyu by a vigilante member. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said that police patrol teams were immediately deployed to the area and succeeded in restoring normalcy. Efforts commenced to arrest the vigilante member suspected of killing Aliyu. However, the respite was short-lived as the youths regrouped in the early hours of Sunday and continued their protest.
The protesters blocked the Minna-Bida highway, disrupting traffic and forcing commercial activities to a standstill. They also moved to Gbeganu area and attacked residents, resulting in the deaths of two more persons. Several others sustained injuries during the attack. Police tactical teams were subsequently deployed to the affected areas to contain the violence and disperse the rioters.
The police were able to bring the situation under control, and the road was cleared for free flow of traffic. The Niger State Police Command is still investigating the incident and efforts are ongoing to arrest the vigilante member suspected of killing Aliyu. The incident has raised concerns about the activities of local vigilantes and the need for greater accountability.
This latest violence occurred less than three weeks after the death of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna triggered widespread outrage and protests. The circumstances surrounding the miners' deaths remain under investigation. The repeated incidents of violence in Minna have raised concerns about the security situation in the state.
The incident has also highlighted the need for greater dialogue and engagement between law enforcement agencies and the community to prevent such incidents from occurring. The authorities have promised to investigate the incident and take necessary steps to prevent future occurrences. The community is still reeling from the effects of the violence, with many residents calling for greater security measures to be put in place.
Key points
- - Three people were killed and several others injured in a violent protest in Minna, Niger State, sparked by a fatal shooting by a local vigilante. - The incident occurred on Saturday night and the protest continued into Sunday, with youths blocking the Minna-Bida highway and attacking residents. - The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that the crisis began with the shooting of Aliyu by a vigilante member and efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspect.
