Police Detain 25 Demonstrators Rallying Against Soaring Living Expenses in Niger

25 individuals, including a 30-year-old woman named Aisha Jibrin, have been apprehended by the Niger State Police Command for their involvement in a protest against the high cost of living in Minna, the state capital.

Aisha, alongside two other women, Fatima Aliyu, aged 57, and Fatima Isyaku, aged 43, were among those detained by the authorities.

The demonstration, which took place on Monday, saw youths and women taking to the streets to express their grievances regarding the challenging economic conditions and escalating living expenses in the region.

The protest initiated with a group of women led by Aisha blocking the Minna-Bida Road at the Kpakungu Roundabout, voicing their dissatisfaction with the governance under the Bola Tinubu administration.

As the protest progressed, it gained momentum with the participation of men and youths, resulting in vehicular disruptions.

Despite the deployment of police personnel to the scene, the demonstrators persisted, expressing distrust towards law enforcement, perceiving them as government agents.

However, the Niger State Police Command asserted in a statement released on Wednesday that the protesters had engaged in violent behavior. According to the statement, the police encountered resistance when attempting to disperse the crowd, with protesters allegedly resorting to physical aggression and damaging police vehicles and property.

The statement further elaborated that Aisha and her companions were arrested following the escalation of violence. Weapons such as stones, bottles, sticks, cutlasses, and drugs were reportedly seized from the protesters.

During interrogation, Aisha claimed ignorance regarding the legality of their actions, stating that she had informed a local youth leader about the planned protest, who allegedly failed to notify the authorities.

The arrested individuals were taken into custody for further investigation, with plans for their prosecution underway. The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, urged the public to uphold the law and seek appropriate channels to address grievances instead of resorting to unlawful means.