The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of 25 suspects following a recent protest in Minna, Niger State. The protesters had blocked the Minna-Bada Road and Kpakungu roundabout to demonstrate against soaring food prices in the country. Aisha Jibrin, the leader of the protest, and 24 others have been apprehended, including several women and miscreants.
According to Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson of the Niger State Command of the Force, the police intervened after the protesters refused to disperse and resorted to violence, attacking the police with dangerous weapons such as stones, bottles, sticks, cutlasses, and damaging police patrol vehicles.
The police recovered several weapons from the suspects, including knives, a pair of scissors, a cutlass, a saw blade, an iron pipe, sticks, Indian hemp, and charms. Aisha Jibrin, the protest initiator, claimed that she was not aware of the illegality of her actions and alleged that she had informed a local youth leader of their plan to protest, who assured her of informing the police, which he did not.
The suspects are set to be charged to court upon completion of the investigation. The Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, advised the public not to resort to self-help but to address issues through appropriate authorities.
The police are also making efforts to apprehend other members of the violent protest.