An unidentified protester has been killed as the ongoing hunger protest turned violent on Thursday when hoodlums started throwing stones at policemen in Katsina State.
Although it started peacefully, the protest later escalated into chaos as hoodlums began throwing stones and other objects at security personnel, vandalising government and private properties.
In response, the police operatives fired warning gunshots, teargas and hot water to dispense the violent elements among the demonstrators.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the police officer who was injured from the incident was rushed to a hospital for medical attention but the extent of his injuries was not yet known.
The protesters who were not traced to a particular group, had staged peaceful protest to the Government House where they demanded an end to hardship in the country.
However, the situation spiraled out of control when some hoodlums began vandalising properties and attacking security personnel.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Musa Abubakar, while addressing journalists at the scene, said the protesters did not formally write the Command before the protest.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Abdul Rahman Abdulahi, presented a letter of demand to the state’s Acting Governor Faruq Lawal for onward delivery to President Bola Tinubu.
Abdulahi said he could not control the number of over 300 groups under the coalition which was reason his members opted not to protest but chose to march and present their complaints via a letter urging the government to use both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to address insecurity.
He also charged the federal government to return fuel subsidy and continue giving palliatives to the people, while intensifying efforts in tackling the food insecurity in the state.
Responding, the acting governor commended the groups for their conduct and their complaints to the president, assuring to forward their letter to President Tinubu.
He also cautioned the people to desist from vandalising government properties and those belonging to individuals, urging other groups to emulate the groups by formalising their complaints.
