Protest in Niger over soaring costs of living, food prices

Residents of Niger State voiced their discontent with the challenging economic conditions and escalating living expenses by staging a protest in Minna.
The demonstration commenced when a group of women blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the Kpakungu Roundabout, decrying what they perceive as increased hardship under the Bola Tinubu government.
The protest, which intensified as men and youths joined, impeded vehicular movement as participants expressed their grievances.

The hausa-speaking youths lamented the deteriorating state of the country’s economy.
Despite the deployment of police operatives to the scene, the protesters remained resolute, asserting that the police were acting as government agents.
Ibrahim Gana, one of the vocal youths, highlighted the exorbitant prices of essential commodities, citing rice at N2,000 and maize at N1,000 per measure in Minna markets.
Efforts by the police to quell the protest and apprehend some demonstrators proved futile as the youth successfully repelled the officers. passersby recounted narrowly escaping injuries as the protesters disrupted lawful activities.
Resorting to teargas, the police aimed to disperse the crowd, but the resilient protesters continued their demonstration.
Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesman for the Niger State Command, acknowledged the protest and explained that the police had to employ minimum force to restore order and allow the free flow of traffic on Bida road. The deputy Governor also attempted to address the demonstrators, but persuasion did not yield the desired results.