Protesters burn APC headquarters in Jigawa, LG office in Katsina, Tafa LG secretariat in Niger
By Emma Ogbuehi
The headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State is currently on fire.
The secretariat was set ablaze during the violence that broke out during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
It was gathered that in Dutse, the state capital, irate young people had broken into the facility, destroying billboards and other promotional materials before setting the structure on fire.
They also torched cars that were parked within the premises.
Security personnel attempted to control armed youngsters, but they broke loose, resulting in violence that extended to other sections of the state.
The protesters also attacked the home of the House of Representatives member representing Gumel, Gagarawa and Maigarati, as well as the residence of the APC Zonal Vice Chairman.
In the same vein, the nationwide protest took a tragic turn in Katsina State as the demonstrators burnt down the APC office in Dutsinma LGA.
One of the protesters was reportedly killed and a police officer was injured as the demonstrators clashed with the police.
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The protest which was initially calm with groups identified by the police was later infiltrated by different other groups carrying sticks and leaves, chanting “Bamuyi Bamuyi.” Among them were many underage and there were no security agents seen around them.
Around the Katsina State Government House, the protest descended into chaos when a group of hoodlums infiltrated the crowd and began attacking security personnel with stones and other objects for preventing them from entry inside the government house. This reportedly forced the police to deploy tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Confirming the reports, the spokesperson, Katsina Police Command, ASP Sadiq Abubakar said, it is true that the APC Office in Dutsinma was set on fire. However, he said the command has not received report of any protester in the state that was killed.
In Niger State, protesters burnt down Tafa local government Secretariat, Sabon Wuse, along Kaduna- Abuja expressway.
The incident occurred around 9:30 am.
Besides setting the Secretariat ablaze, two cars were also burnt down while two others were vandalized and valuables looted in the Secretariat.
The development it was gathered created serious hold up along the ever busy expressway before a combination of security agencies mobilized to the area and dispersed the protesters.
Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the development said eleven persons have already been arrested and the highway now free for traffic.
In a statement, the PPRO said, “Some miscreants of Tafa area of Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State and that of Hayin-Diko Gurara LGA of Niger State mobilized and stormed Tafa LGA Secretariat of Niger State located along Abuja-Kaduna expressway, Sabon-Wuse Niger State.
“The hoodlums vandalized the Secretariat, partly set it ablaze, two cars were also burnt and two others vandalized.
“They further looted valuables there-in while the Police and other security agencies responded to the scene and arrested eleven violent miscreants with different dangerous weapons including firearms as others were dispersed from the scene and some of the looted items were recovered,” he declared.
Wasiu said a combination of security agencies responded to the blockage of the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and old toll-gate and the hoodlums were dispersed adding that presently, the expressway has been reopened for motorists and there is free flow of traffic along the highway.
He called on members of the public to go about their lawful duties assuring that safety of their lives and property are guaranteed just as he assured that other fleeing miscreants will be arrested.
On the death of some protesters in Suleja, unconfirmed sources said six people were shot in an attempt to burn down Police “A” Division in the town just as Police kept mum over the issue.