Some angry residents of Niger State have flooded the streets of Minna, the state capital, protesting the rising cost of food and economic hardship in the country.
The protesters, who trooped out as early as 7 a.m. on Monday blocked the ever-busy Minna-Bida Road from the Kpakungu roundabout.
Initial attempts by the deputy governor, Yakubu Garba, and other members of the state executive council to address the crowds were rebuffed by the protesters, who chanted ‘Ba muayi, Ba muayi” continuously.
After much pleading, Mr Garba appealed to the protesters to sheath their swords as the state government was doing everything possible to ameliorate the economic hardship on the people, pledging that the Niger state government will continue to distribute palliatives to the downtrodden.
“The state government is very much aware of the economic hardship faced by our people, hence you have to remain calm as modalities have been put in place to ease your sufferings,” he said.
Also, efforts by the police to control the crowd almost resulted in violence as protesters asked police to leave, forcing the police to fire several shots in the air to disperse them.
