The protest against hunger and bad government in Kaduna state took a sad turn in the early hours when hoodlums hijacked the process and started the looting of properties belonging to the residents. At the same time, other individuals were unfortunate to lose their cell phones due to the criminal act.
The miscreants who started the process as a protest on Monday broke into shops along the Kaduna state metropolis. At the same time, other individuals in the Zaria area were seen exhibiting different criminal acts, which included the snatching of phones.
The protesters from the Kawo area of the state started chanting different anti-government songs and carrying the Russian flag; some of the residents sang different songs and begged the Russian president to come to their rescue. The protesters from the Kawo area join their counterparts in the city centre while they occupy the popular NEPA roundabout in the state.
The situation in Zaria was similar to that in the Kaduna metropolis. Residents were left in fear as the protesters took over the street, stopping all vehicles leaving and coming into the city. The miscreants who hijacked the process harassed residents while they displayed confiscated weapons on the street.
An anonymous source in the Danmagaji area in Zaria explained that two hoodlums who attempted to rub some residents of their belongings were attacked and lost their lives during the process.
An anonymous protester explained the reasons for hosting the Russian flag during the protest, pointing out that the act was to draw the attention of Russian President Putin after the United Kingdom and United States governments had neglected the happening in the country. The protester cited the Niger Republic and other countries in the Sahel that have demonstrated such acts.
In an attempt to calm the situation, the governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, declared a 24-hour curfew in the state. According to the government, the decision was made after reviewing the security situation in the state.
The overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, noted in a statement that the decision had been approved by the state governor. With the current decision, residents are advised to remain indoors until further action is announced by the government.
Kaduna state has become one of the states in the northern part of Nigeria where the current protest has turned violent, resulting in the declaration of a curfew.
On the first of the protest, protesters were tear-gassed at the gate of the government house when they tried to gain entrance. The protesters had approved the government house to demand an address from the governor, an exchange between the protesters and security agents, resulting in the death of two individuals.
On the second day of the protest, some physically challenged protesters were attacked at the gate of the government house. The protesters claimed they were at the gate only to demand inclusivity from the government, but they were harassed by the security official situated at the gate.
Kaduna has now joined the long list of states in the northern part of the country to declare curfew. Kano Borno, Jigawa, Niger, and Pleateu have all declared curfew, with some already relaxed.
