Six people have been reportedly killed, while some sustained injuries in the ongoing protest in Suleja, Niger State.

 

The victims were said to have been killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

 

According to Daily Trust, passengers and motorists using the highway were trapped on the road for hours.

 

Some policemen around the barricade could not control the youths who outnumbered them.

 

However, a reinforcement team was sent to the scene where chaos occurred.

 

Among those killed was said to be Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was hit by a stray bullet.

 

The bullet reportedly hit Isah on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division, where protesters had assembled.

 

A nephew of the deceased said that his uncle was on his bike when the bullet fired to disperse the protesters hit him in the chest and he died on the spot.

 

“He was my uncle. He was not even protesting. He was passing in front of the Police ‘A’ division where some people were protesting when a stray bullet hit him in the chest and he died. As I speak with you, I am in his house alongside other mourners. It’s unfortunate,” he said.

 

Another victim, simply identified as Mallam Abu, also died on the spot.

 

One of the residents who did not want his name mentioned told Daily Trust that three other people were shot at the same scene while two others were shot at the Suleja Junction on the Abuja-Kaduna road but could not confirm if other victims were dead.

 

Another resident who said his shop was not far from the Suleja Police ‘A’ division said he had to close to run for his life.

 

“We heard people shouting and gunshots for about 20 minutes at Emir Roundabout. The situation in Suleja is ugly,” Bala Abdullahi, another resident said.

 

Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said some hoodlums also attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze but were dispersed by security operatives.

 

“The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, but they were dispersed by the Police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate were cleared,” he said.

 

When contacted over the phone, Wasiu Abiodun, Police Public Relations Officer in Niger, said, “Let me verify and get back to you.”However, he had not sent his response as of the time of filing this report.