Protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State were forced to flee for safety on Thursday morning as police fired tear gas to disperse a group demonstrating against the current administration’s handling of hunger and hardship in Nigeria.
Earlier in the day, the iconic Lekki Tollgate was largely deserted as demonstrations erupted across various parts of the country.
However, by around 11 a.m., a group of protesters gathered at the site, carrying placards with messages expressing their dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters called on the government to urgently address the worsening economic conditions.
Security forces, including police, soldiers, officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, were present at the tollgate.
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They informed the demonstrators, mostly youths, about a court order that restricted their protest to Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu, both located in the Lagos mainland.
The protesters, however, refused to relocate and continued their demonstrations until police used tear gas to disperse them.
In a related incident, six protesters were reportedly shot dead, and many others injured during ongoing hardship protests in Suleja, Niger State.
The fatalities occurred as security forces attempted to dislodge a group of demonstrators who had blocked a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway, causing traffic to come to a standstill for several hours.
The situation escalated after a reinforcement team arrived to restore order, leading to a chaotic scene. Among the victims was Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road in Suleja, who was reportedly struck by a stray bullet while riding his bike near the Suleja Police ‘A’ division, where protesters had gathered.
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A nephew of the deceased shared the tragic news, saying, “He was my uncle. He was not even protesting. He was passing in front of the Police ‘A’ division where some people were protesting when a stray bullet hit him in the chest, and he died on the spot. As I speak with you, I am in his house alongside other mourners. It’s unfortunate.”
Another victim, identified as Mallam Abu, along with three others, was also shot at the same location, while two more were reportedly shot at the Suleja Junction on the Abuja-Kaduna road.
The Niger State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incidents, adding that some hoodlums had attempted to set the Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) building on fire but were dispersed by police and military forces.
He stated, “The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, but they were dispersed by the police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate were cleared.