Day 3: Anti-hike protests across the states

KWARA

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has ordered a probe into the killing of a protester by security agents during Tuesday’s anti- subsidy protests in the state.

Ahmed said that the death of the unidentified youth was unacceptable to his government just as the agitation has spread to Kano and Bauchi States.

Similarly, worried by the protests by the youths and its attendant consequences, the Chairman, Council of Traditional rulers in the state and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari also, called on the people of the state to be law-abiding while they stage protest against the removal of fuel subsidy.

Meanwhile, hundreds of youths in Ilorin, yesterday continued protests against the increase in prices of petrol for the second day, even as the victim of Tuesday’s protest, late Muyideen Moshood Opobiyi, 23, buried at the cemetery along Asa Dam in the state capital. The youths made bonfires along the major roads as the police said they had arrested eight suspects in connection with the protests.

Two people including a policeman attached to the residence of the former Inspector General of Police Chief Sunday Adewusi, at Amilegbe area of Ilorin sustained severe injuries in the protest as confirmed by Police spokesperson ASP Dabo Ezekiel.

Also,there was wailing, and cursing on the federal government by friends, relations and sympathizers when the remains of the victim of the protest,was buried in Ilorin.

KANO

Meanwhile, in Kano, hundreds of protesters have occupied the strategic city centre in the metroplis for three days running now.

The area being occupied by the Kano protesters is a stretch of land between the Silver Jubilee and Gidan Murtala Round About, now cordoned off by security agents forcing traffic gridlock in the state capital.

BAUCHI

However, in Bauchi State yesterday youths demonstrated along major streets in the state capital, as they pooh-poohed the reasons given by the Federal Government for the increase in pump prices of petrol by over 150 percent.

The youths who demonstrated under the aegis of the Bauchi Citizens Patriotic Front, BCPF, lamented that the high cost of petrol had taken its toll on commuters and the poor in particular. The procession interrupted traffic along major roads in the capital city, as the youths who carried placards with various inscriptions visited the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, to complain about the worsening plight of the masses in the state.

ONDO

PROTESTING youths in Oke Igbo in Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Council area of Ondo State yesterday blocked the main road in the town preventing vehicular movement into the town over government removal of petrol subsidy.
Displaying various placards, they demanded immediate reversal of the petrol  price to N65 per litre.

The aggrieved youths also picketed petrol stations within the town, forcing most of the stations to close down as early as 10am.

ABUJA
Three members of the National Youth Alliance against the removal of subsidy yesterday vowed to continue with street protests in the capital city of Abuja after being released from detention on Tuesday, saying government has not answered the critical questions needed to introduce the policy nationwide.

The three were arrested along with former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information, Dino Melaye.