Four persons were reportedly killed while some sustained injuries on Thursday at the ongoing ‘endbad governance’ protests in Suleja, Niger State.
The deceased were said to have been killed by stray bullets while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
Some security personnel who were around the barricade could not control the youths that had out-numbered them.
However, a reinforcement team was sent to the scene where pandemonium occurred in Hassan Dallatu and Church roads in the Suleja area.
DSC Abubakar Muti, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Minna, confirmed that some people lost their lives during the protests in Suleja.
“We have confirmed the death of four persons so far, although an unconfirmed report is saying that the death toll has risen to eight, we will still confirm and get back to you,” he said.
Muti said that trouble started when some youths tried to vandalise public properties in the area during the protests, prompting the security agencies to mobilise to defend the facilities.
According to him, the security agencies came out in their numbers, adding, ”right now, the security agencies had since restored normalcy in the area.”
He enjoined the public to go about their legitimate businesses in the area and report any suspicious activity to the nearest security agency.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on the people protesting against hunger and hardship to come for dialogue.
Wike made the call while handing over Staff of Office to four newly coronated Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, in Abuja on Thursday.
Some Nigerians in different parts of the country have begun a 10-day protest from August 1, to draw the attention of the current administration to address hunger, hardship and bad governance in the country.
He commended protesters who refused to be violent and urged them to continue to remain peaceful, noting that it was better to dialogue and iron out issues with the government.
“I want you to continue with that peace process, and he who makes peace, will at the end of the day, enjoy the dividend of peace.
“I want to commend you and urge you to still talk to our people, that we are still ready to talk to them, dialogue with them and iron out the grey areas.
“We’ll also brief them on certain things they do not know so that they will be well informed to make informed decisions,” he said.
He added that “Abuja is the centre of unity; Abuja is for everybody. If we lose Abuja, we have lost Nigeria.
“That is why we have always said, let us work together. There is nothing we can’t achieve under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Give him time and a lot of things will change.”
Speaking to the coronated chiefs, the minister said that traditional rulers have a lot of roles to play, adding that they were the closest to the grassroots and interphase more with the people.
He said: “You are the one who know what the people feel at home; you are the one who will tell us whether government is making any impact or not.
“You will convey to your subjects what government is doing and what government is about to do; you are the one to sell government policies and programmes to your people.
“If you convey a wrong message, that is what the people will accept; if you convey the right message that is what the people will accept. So, you play a very pivotal role.”
Wike added that their role was no longer to just sit at home, but to make sure they maintain peace in their domain and ensure there was security.
He also said that the traditional rulers were expected to draw the attention of government to any issue that requires government response for the government to act.
He urged the chiefs to take their responsibilities very seriously and assured them that the government would do all it can to provide what they would need to work for their people.
“If you want the government to do something it is not by going to the church, to the mosque, reach us and tell us what you want, and we will dialogue and make sure those things you want are provided,” he said.
Also, FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, commended the traditional rulers for their unwavering leadership and dedication to rural communities.
“The presentation of the staff of office is a testament to your esteemed roles and the respect you command. We pray that you will continue to lead with wisdom and integrity,” she said.
Also speaking, Bitrus Garki, Mandate Secretary, Area Council Secretariat, FCT Administration, urged the chiefs to keep their respective chiefdoms united.
Garki identified the coronated chiefs as Joseph Danfulani as Sa’Karuyi of Karu, Mr Luka Nizassanas as Esu of Kwali, Alhaji Abubakar Sani as Sarki of Pai and Alhaji Aliyu Ndatsu as Etsu of Yaba.
Sakaruyi of Karu is a second-class Chief in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Esu of Kwali, a second-class Chief in Kwali Area Council, Sarkin Pai, a third-class Chief of Pai Chiefdom, also in Kwali Area Council, while Etsu of Yaba is a third-class Chief in Abaji Area Council.