2 shot as police stop protest in Suleja

Two persons were shot in Suleja, Niger State, on Monday when anti-riot police intervened in a protest near the Abuja-Kaduna highway. 

The incident occurred around 9 am as youths attempted to stage a demonstration in the area.

According to eyewitnesses, police and soldiers were deployed to maintain traffic flow and disperse the protesters. They said the security operatives used gunfire and tear gas to control the crowd. 

However, one of the policemen, who was reportedly masked, allegedly shot Ismaila Dahiru, a local scrap worker, in the chest.

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Ali Adamu, a relative of Dahiru, claimed that the shooting occurred despite the intervention of nearby soldiers who cautioned the officer, emphasising that Dahiru was not part of the protest. 

In addition to Dahiru, another individual was shot in the abdomen.

Both victims were initially taken to Umaru Musa Yaradua Hospital in Sabon-Wuse and later referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada for further treatment.

Efforts to get Muhammad Sani Musa, the police area commander in Suleja, for comment, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.