The peaceful protest against bad governance has turned violent in Kaduna as protesters loot and destroy government properties.
Recall that Nigerians officially commenced a 10-day nationwide protest today, Thursday. The organizers, many of them young people, said they are frustrated by the country’s economic conditions, vowing a show of “days of rage” as they protest.
In Kaduna, hoodlums hijacked the demonstration, resulting in the arson of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency (KASTLEA) headquarters.
The demonstration took a violent turn as the protesters, marching from Kaduna Government House through Sokoto Road.
The situation spiraled out of control when a group of hoodlums took over, leading to the destruction and burning of the KASTLEA office.
The violence did not stop at arson; the KASTLEA headquarters was looted, and several private residences in the vicinity were also targeted by the rioters.
An X user, Abdullah Yunus Abdallah (@Abdool85), claimed that government property like Kaduna State Traffic Laws Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA) and Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) have been looted in Kaduna State.
His tweet read: “It is said to be a peaceful protest but even here in Kaduna, it has turned to be violent, with stealing and burning down of people and government properties like KASTLEA, KADIPA etc. This police officer was brutally attacked by the protesters.”
It is said to be a peaceful protest but even here in Kaduna, it has turned to be violent, with stealing and burning down of people and government properties like KASTLEA, KADIPA etc. This police officer was brutally attacked by the protesters pic.twitter.com/qhc70WIleu
— Abdallah Yunus Abdallah (@Abdool85) August 1, 2024
There have also been reports of curfew in Kaduna as at least three persons have been allegedly killed during the protest.
Eyewitness said the number of protesters mostly youths and the unemployed, which had outnumbered the security operatives, marched from the Rigasa area and from the Abakwa end, towards the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the official residence and office of the state Governor.
The surviving protester who craved anonymity, said ” we were matching peacefully and no one was carrying any offensive weapon. “
“I think the security operatives near the Government House were threatened by our large number.
Suddenly, a vehicle, that they use in spraying hot water on protesters, came speeding towards us from the Government House axis and sprayed us with hot water, then another security vehicle came on speed from the 44 Reference Hospital end.”
” In the confusion that ensued and as we scampered to save ourselves from being hit by the security vehicles, 3 peaceful protesters were hit and they died. No one carried any weapon, we were just carrying placards and chanted slogans against bad governance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, decried the looting of the Digital Innovation Part by protesters in Kano.
Tijani noted that the loot has led to a loss of millions of naira, which is considered as a setback to deepening the country’s workforce for technology.
Tweeting on X(@bosuntijani) on Thursday, he said “Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters.
“Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week. A slight setback for our journey to deepen our workforce for technology while creating job opportunities for the youth. Millions of Naira down the drain.”
