A protest regarding the escalating food prices, which commenced early on Thursday, reportedly escalated into violence when hoodlums purportedly seized control of a trailer loaded with foodstuff along the Suleja-Kaduna road.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the protesters commandeered the trailer, laden with rice and other provisions, after overpowering the driver, proceeding to loot from the vehicle.
“I witnessed the miscreants surrounding the trailer, chanting protest songs claiming it as their food.
Suddenly, the situation escalated as the hoodlums overpowered the driver, forcing him to flee for safety, and began looting from the trailer,” one eyewitness reported.
Security personnel, including soldiers, police, and civil defense operatives, later arrived at the scene and dispersed the protesters by firing teargas.
“It took some time for security operatives to arrive and start firing teargas and attempting arrests,” the witness added.
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Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, stated that the Suleja Area Commander, ACP Sani Musa, dispatched patrol teams to the scene, dispersing the protesters and reopening the highway for traffic.
“There was a protest this morning along Kaduna road, Suleja, and the protest plan was not communicated to the Police; it was later discovered to be hijacked by some miscreants who blocked the highway,” Abiodun explained.
He further mentioned that while the highway was cleared for traffic, monitoring continued, although he could not confirm the number of hoodlums arrested at the time of filing the report.
In recent weeks, a wave of protests has swept across the country due to the prevailing hardship. It began with a demonstration in Kpakungu, Minna, reportedly led by women, resulting in the arrest of approximately 30 individuals, including the protest leaders.
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