Minna, Niger State – Gunshots echoed through the Tunga area of Minna as protesters clashed with police near the Top Medical junction. The unrest is part of a broader wave of protests across Nigeria, with citizens voicing frustration over poor economic conditions and demanding improved governance.
The situation escalated when demonstrators attempted to block a busy road, prompting police to use teargas in an effort to disperse the crowd. Unfazed, the protesters regrouped and tried to set up a roadblock, which led police to fire warning shots into the air to deter further actions.
In response, security forces, including policemen and vigilantes, moved swiftly to remove the barricades erected by the protesters. The presence of security operatives has been intensified in known protest hotspots, such as the Kpakungu Roundabout on Minna-Bida road, a site of previous demonstrations. The deployment includes personnel from the police, military, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The unrest has caused market closures and shop owners to shutter their businesses, fearing potential looting amidst the volatile situation.
