11th January, 2012
Since the nationwide protests against fuel subsidy removal started on Monday, at least 12 persons have been killed while several others were injured in Lagos, Osun, Kano and Ogun States.
In Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, some youths who were playing football on a street in Ogba were said to have been shot by the DPO attached to Pen Cinema Police Divisional Headquarters, Tunde Fabunmi.
The DPO allegedly opened fire on five of them, killing Abiodun Ademola while four others were seriously injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.
The death toll arising from the anti-subsidy removal protest swelled by three persons yesterday when a commercial motorcycle operator (okada rider) and his two passengers were burnt to death in Ketu area of Lagos.
Report said a commuter bus driver was trying to evade a bonfire when he hit the okada, pushing the three occupants into the raging fire. The victims were burnt beyond recognition.
In Ibafo, a suburb of Ogun State, some area boys yesterday reportedly mounted a ‘road block’ on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and were extorting money from the few motorists passing on the road when the police from a nearby police station accosted them.
The area boys allegedly opened fire on them. When the police confronted them, one of the area boys was killed and many others escaped from the scene of the incident with bullet wounds.
Another protester was also killed in Osun State yesterday.
An unidentified youth died when thousands of protesters stormed Kano Government House on Monday and sought to gain entry by force.
Security operatives fired canisters of tear gas on the protesting youths whose ages range between 15 and 25.
In the ensuing stampede, a wall of the Government House was pulled down.
Scores of the rampaging youths were severely injured while three were feared dead.
Similarly in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Southsouth Nigeria, hoodlums engaged security operatives in a running battle as the miscreants went on looting spree.
In an effort to stop the looting of a Bureau de change offices, policemen and the hoodlums engaged in a shootout. The clash left at least five of the looters dead while several others were injured.
The incident led to the suspension of the protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Edo State.
—Moyo Fabiyi