Nigeria Cracks Down on 'Hunger' Protests Amid Rising Living Costs: 3 end up dead

Nigerian police have fired live bullets and tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters rallying against the rising cost of living in Kano, the largest northern city. Many businesses across the country have shut down as demonstrators chant slogans like "We are hungry." In Kano, gunshots were fired after protesters set tires ablaze in front of the state governor’s house, resulting in four people being hospitalized.

The protests, organized via social media and inspired by recent successful protests in Kenya against tax increases, have seen officers using hot water cannons in Kano to control the crowds. Looters broke into a nearby warehouse, making off with cooking oil and mattresses.

In Abuja, a court ordered protesters to remain at the National Stadium, but they moved towards the city center, prompting police to fire tear gas to control the procession, affecting traffic.

Security forces are stationed strategically across the capital and surrounding towns, with banks closed in these areas. In Lagos, the economic hub of Nigeria, the protest is gaining momentum as demonstrators converge in Ojota, designated by the government as a protest site, shouting "ole" (thief) in Yoruba in reference to President Bola Tinubu and his administration.

The discontent stems from President Tinubu’s removal of a fuel subsidy in May 2023, which aimed to reduce government spending but led to soaring pump prices and subsequent increases in other goods. Protesters demand the reversal of this decision and call for comprehensive reforms in the electoral system and judiciary.