Some women and youths have taken to the streets of Minna, Niger State to protest over the seemingly biting hardship and the rising cost of living in the country.
A group of women had blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu Roundabout and were later joined by men and youths stopping vehicles from moving.
Some of the youths who spoke in the Hausa language, lamented how the country’s economy was getting worse under the leadership of President Tinubu.
One of the youths, who gave his name as Ibrahim Gana, said:
“Rice was sold at the cost of N2,000 at Minna markets while maize was N1,000 per module (measure).
“The Federal Government needs to take action to reduce the hardship being faced by the poor Nigerians. Things are becoming unbearable.”
An attempt by Police operatives to quell the protest failed as they chased away the officers who were coming after them.
Some passersby said they narrowly escaped injuries as the youths chased people away from going about their lawful duties.
The police operatives had to deploy the use of teargas in the direction of the rampaging youths to disperse them, but they remained undeterred as they continued their protest.
The Niger State Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, in his reaction to the protest, said the police had to apply minimum force to disperse the protesters.
“I woke up this morning with information that many people protesting blocked Bida road, obstructing motorists and causing people to be unable to go about their work. So we had to deploy there this morning.
“After so much persuasion, they refused to open the road, even the deputy Governor, His Excellency, was there to address them; we had to use minimum force to disperse the protesters, the road was opened, and there is a free flow of traffic now.”
