Since the nationwide protests against fuel subsidy removal started on Monday, at least 22 people have been killed while several others were injured in Lagos, Osun, Kano, Niger and Ogun states.
In Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, some youths who were playing football on a street in Ogba were said to have been shot by the DPO attached to Pen Cinema Police Divisional Headquarters, Tunde Fabunmi.
The DPO allegedly opened fire on five of them, killing Abiodun Ademola while four others were seriously injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.
The death toll arising from the anti-subsidy removal protest swelled on Tuesday when a commercial motorcycle operator (okada rider) was burnt to death in Ketu area of Lagos.
Report said a commuter bus driver was trying to evade a bonfire when he hit the okada, dragging the okada rider and his bike into the raging fire. The victim was burnt beyond recognition. But his two passengers were lucky to escape with some injuries.
In Ibafo, a suburb of Ogun State, some area boys reportedly mounted a ‘road block’ on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and were extorting money from the few motorists passing on the road when the police from a nearby police station accosted them.
The area boys allegedly opened fire on them. When the police confronted them, one of the area boys was killed and many others escaped from the scene of the incident with bullet wounds.
Another protester was also killed in Osun State on Tuesday.
An unidentified youth and four others died when thousands of protesters stormed Kano Government House on Monday and sought to gain entry by force.
Security operatives fired canisters of tear gas on the protesting youths whose ages range between 15 and 25.
In the ensuing stampede, a wall of the Government House was pulled down.
Scores of the rampaging youths were severely injured while five of them were feared dead.
Similarly in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Southsouth Nigeria, hoodlums engaged security operatives in a running battle as the miscreants went on looting spree.
In an effort to stop the looting of a Bureau de change offices, policemen and the hoodlums engaged in a shootout.
Unofficial report said the clash left at least five of the looters dead while several others were injured.
The incident led to the suspension of the protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Edo State.
In Ogbere, Olunloyo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, policemen shot dead a 27-year-old motor spare parts seller, Olurin Olateju yesterday.
The police were trying to disperse the irate crowd by shooting into the air when Olurin was shot and he died instantly. Neighbours said the deceased’s wife had just put to bed.
Three persons died in a ghastly motor accident at Ijaiye-Ojokoro area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria on Wednesday.
Twelve others including a todler were said to have sustained injuries.
The victims had defied the stay-at-home order of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and were travelling in an 18-seater commuter bus with registration number LAGOS: XZ 477 MUS.
It was gathered that the bus drove against traffic around 8:30 am and collided with an oncoming okada rider before hitting the culvert at Ahmadiyya General Hospital, Ijaiye Ojokoro,
The okada rider whose bike was marked DX 403 KSF was said to have died on the spot. His remains were taken to the General Hospital, Agege.
Among those who sustained serious injuries were a nursing mother; a pregnant woman and other passengers that told our correspondent that they were out to look for what to eat having stayed indoors for 48 hours.
According to Mr. Japhet Agbole, who is a casual worker in Ikeja, sustained an ankle injury, , “I needed to go out and look for money; there is nobody to lend me money in our area.”
— Moyo Fabiyi & Kazeem Ugbodaga