Confirming the killings in the Suleja area of Niger State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has vowed to take action.
Daily Trust reported that several individuals were killed when security operatives forcefully dispersed a crowd of protesters who had blocked a major road, trapping passengers for hours.
When contacted about the shooting, Wasiu Abiodun, spokesman for the Niger Police Command, said he would verify the information and get back to our reporter but did not follow up. In a subsequent statement on the protest, the police spokesperson was silent on the deaths but mentioned that some hoodlums had been arrested.
However, Abdullahi Liman, Chairman of the Suleja branch of the NBA, told our correspondent by phone that, as directed by the national president of the NBA, he had visited the residence of one of the deceased, Yahaya Nda Isah, to gather credible information for further action.
“The national NBA has asked all branches to form monitoring committees regarding the protest. So, we are going around to see what is really happening. I received information that a man was shot dead, and I came to the victim’s house (Yahaya Nda Isah) to confirm for myself, and I have seen the corpse.
“So, we are now gathering information about the incident, and I will report to the national level so that we can determine the next steps. This cannot be denied.” NBA President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN) had directed chairpersons in all 130 NBA branches across the country to monitor the protests, recognizing the fundamental and constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens to assemble and protest.
