The Niger State Police Command has detained Aisha Jibrin, a 30-year-old woman, along with two others and 22 additional individuals, following their involvement in a mass protest on Monday addressing the high cost of living in Minna, the state capital.
The protest, which initially involved a group of women led by Aisha, escalated as they blocked Minna-Bida Road at Kpakungu Roundabout, expressing their grievances against what they perceived as severe hardship under the administration of Bola Tinubu. The protest gained momentum as men and youths joined in, obstructing vehicular movement.
Despite the deployment of police operatives to the scene, the protesters continued, asserting that the police were government agents and incapable of taking action against them.
The Niger State Police Command, in a statement on Wednesday, alleged that the protesters turned violent, prompting the use of minimum force by the police to disperse them. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Wasiu, the protesters attacked the police with weapons such as stones, bottles, sticks, cutlasses, damaging police patrol vehicles and parts of the Kpakungu Division roof.
The statement disclosed that Aisha Jibrin and her two associates, Fatima Aliyu (57 years old) and Fatima Isyaku (43 years old), were arrested, along with 22 others, and a variety of weapons were confiscated, including knives, scissors, cutlasses, an iron pipe, and charms. Aisha claimed during interrogation that she was unaware her actions were illegal and had informed a youth leader, Hassan, who failed to notify the police of their protest plans.
The arrested individuals were taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation. The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Shawulu Danmamman, urged the public to be law-abiding and discouraged self-help, encouraging citizens to approach appropriate authorities to address their concerns.
