By Habeeb Ibrahim
The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests took a violent turn in Jigawa State as hoodlums hijacked the movement, resulting in widespread chaos and destruction. The All Progressive Congress (APC) state secretariat in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa, was set ablaze on Thursday.
Initially aimed at voicing grievances against hardship and hunger, the protests spread to over ten major towns in Jigawa. However, the situation deteriorated when hoodlums infiltrated the demonstrations, leading to violent clashes with the police. In their attempt to disperse the unruly crowds, police fired teargas, injuring at least ten people. In Hadejia, four individuals were hospitalized due to injuries and suffocation from the teargas.
The unrest extended beyond Dutse, with government-owned agricultural stores in Hadejia being looted. In Gumel town, the Jigawa State Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO) store, the private residence of a House of Representatives member, and the home of the APC zonal vice chairman were all vandalized and looted. One woman in Gumel was injured by a teargas canister and is currently receiving treatment at Gumel General Hospital.
Birnin Kudu also witnessed significant destruction, with hoodlums vandalizing and looting the State Fertilizer Store and Grains Store. Major roads, including the Kano-Maiduguri Highway, were blocked by the rioters. While security forces managed to prevent further vandalism in some areas, the APC state secretariat was completely destroyed. Similar incidents of violence and vandalism were reported in Jahun, Kazaure, and Shuwarin towns.
The escalation of violence has raised concerns about the potential spread of the protests to other local government areas. Youth have defied directives from Islamic clerics and traditional rulers, heightening fears of further unrest in the state.
Local authorities are calling for calm and have pledged to address the protesters’ grievances in an effort to restore peace and order. The situation remains tense as officials work to prevent additional outbreaks of violence.
