Six people have been killed and several others injured during protests against the government in Suleja, Niger State.
The victims were shot by security forces who were trying to break up the protest. The protesters, mostly young people, had blocked a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
Eyewitnesses say the protesters outnumbered the initial police team at the scene. More security forces were then sent in to disperse the crowd. This led to chaos and panic.
One of the victims killed during the protests in Suleja, Niger State was Yahaya Nda Isah. Isah was a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road in Suleja.
Isah was riding his bicycle in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division when he was struck by a stray bullet fired by the security forces attempting to disperse the protesters.
He was killed by the stray bullet while going about his business unrelated to the protest.
Isah’s nephew stated, “He was not even protesting. He was passing in front of the Police ‘A’ division when a stray bullet hit him on the chest, and he died on the spot.”
Another victim killed during the Suleja protests was a man identified as Mallam Abu. Witnesses said he died instantly after being shot.
In the same incident, three other people were also shot at the same location. Additionally, two more individuals were injured at the Suleja Junction on the Abuja-Kaduna road.