. Three Protesters Shot Dead by Police in Lagos, 2 in Kano
. Oyo Govt Raises Alarm on Political Plans to Cause Chaos
News and Photos from Ibadan by Alaba Taoreed, in Ibadan
The strike action embarked upon by labor Unions in Nigeria today received the blessings of a majority of Nigerians who took to the streets to condemn the recent removal of the fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Even though the Federal Government had tried several attempts to prevent labor unions from embarking on the planned strike, the various unions under the umbrella of the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) as well as other professional bodies today joined teaming numbers of protesters to condemn the removal of the fuel subsidy.
In all the states in the south west, commercial activities were crippled as both government and private businesses were shut.
Even though, the protest went smoothly in some parts of the south west the protest in Lagos recorded a number of casualties as four young men were shot by policemen at Ogba, Ikeja, area.
One of the victims, simply identified as Demola, later died of the injury he received as three others remained in critical conditions as at the time of filing in this report.
Unconfirmed reports has it that 9 protesters have already being killed by the government security personnel in various part of the country.
Oyo Uncovers Plans by Politicians to Cause Chaos
The Oyo State government has said that it had uncovered plans by some discredited politicians in the state to mix with protesters who are embarking on a legitimate peaceful anti-fuel subsidy removal protest to destroy government property and those of supporters of government.
This was contained in a release issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Akin Olajide.
According to him, the plan, which had already been reported to security agencies in the state, was to cash in on the protests over the subsidy removal to destroy property, as well as create chaos and disorder in the state.
The government said while it is not averse to protesters exercising their legitimate right of protest, it will protect the rights of citizens to peace and order by stopping politicians who are out to wreck havoc in the state.
The government also advised citizens of the state to ensure that their peaceful protests over the oil subsidy removal is not hijacked by political brigands who are yet to come to terms with their loss in the last general elections and who now want to create disorder in the state.