The streets of Kaduna were eerily empty today as protesters took to the streets to express their grievances over the harsh economic conditions in the country.
However, the protests which began peacefully around the popular NEPA roundabout in the metropolis, turned violent as the protesters attempted to force themselves into the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, the seat of power in the state.
The protesters, who are mostly youth and underaged children as well as women, threw stones at security operatives in an attempt to force their way into the Government House.
They (protesters) were tear-gassed and turned back. While some ran to safety for their dear lives, other protesters dared security operatives.
The aggrieved ones torched public property as they damaged street lights, burn fires along the Sokoto Road, leading to the government house.
The protesters, carried placards with inscriptions such as “End Fuel Subsidy Now,” “End Bad Governance,” “stop hunger,”
Other inscriptions read, “Bring back subsidy, stop banditry, Boko Haram,” Warning: if any protester is arrested, hurt or killed, our demands will change,” “#Tinubu must go,” “end bad governance in Nigeria and bring back subsidies now,” “we are hungry,” among others.
Earlier, major roads, including the usually bustling Ahmadu Bello Way in the Central Business District, were deserted, with reduced vehicular and human traffic.
NewsNGR reports that public transportation systems operated at reduced capacity, with many commuters opting to stay indoors due to fear.
As a precautionary measure, many shops and businesses in areas like Junction Road, Sabon-Tasha, Kawo, and Mando closed their doors, while traders and vendors stayed away from markets and trading centres to protect their goods and property from potential damage or looting.
On Wednesday, over 25,000 security personnel drawn from the police, military and others were deployed to strategic locations and flashpoints to maintain order and protect citizens and the protesters who are out to demonstrate against bad governance in the country.
The protests, which began Thursday are a response to the country’s economic hardship and poor living conditions.