The Police have dispersed some protesters who tried to block some major roads in Tunga area of Minna on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the nationwide Aug. 1 to 10 hardship protest, some youth in Minna came out to protest.
NAN reports that Nigerians have taken to the streets nationwide, demanding good governance amidst the country’s bad economic situation.
The police began to fire tear gas when the protesters attempted to block the busy road to disperse them.
However, the protesters regrouped and tried to mount a roadblock, forcing the policemen to fire gunshots into the air to scare them away.
Policemen and vigilantes have since removed the big stones used by the protesters to barricade a section of the road.
Mr Abubakar Muti, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), told NAN that Minna has been peaceful until some youth decided to make bonfire with tyres to protest.
Muti said that the corps and other security agencies have since taken over the black spots in Minna and its environment.
Efforts to speak with the police was not successful, as the public relations officer of the command did not pick calls put to him nor responded to messages.
The situation in the state has led to the closure of shops, as traders fear potential looting.
This has led to crippling economic activities in the major markets in Minna and its environs.
NAN observed that Minna main market, Kasuwan gwari, Tungangoro market, Tunga market, Mobile and Total roundabout which used to be busy, were almost empty.
Alhaji Idris Ibrahim, Chairman, Chanchaga Market Local Government Traders Union, told NAN that they directed traders to stay away from the markets to enable the union study the situation regarding the protest.
“We have since studied the situation, the state capital is calm. We have just sent messages to our traders to come and open their shops,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Innocent Ani, a trader in Minna main market said that in order to prevent looting, he will study the situation before going to open his shop.
Mr Abraham Nelson, a resident of Chanchaga who came to purchase foodstuffs for his family in Tungangoro market, said that the low economic activities were not unconnected with the protest.
Nelson advised the Federal Government to reason with the people by reducing the pump price of petroleum products to ease the current economic hardship.
Malam Anas Usman, a trader in Minna main market told NAN that the traders were are afraid of losing their wares to thieves.
Usman appealed to the Federal Government to subsidise the prices of food and petroleum products in order to stabilise the economy.
NAN observed that the few tricycle operators who came out to work lamented low patronage as many people stayed away to prevent being victims of the ongoing protest. (NAN)
