Nigeria rocked by 2nd day of nationwide protests

Tuesday, 10 January 2012 12:31

Written by CNN

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Nigerians strike over gas price increase

(CNN) -- A nationwide strike in Nigeria entered its second day Tuesday as citizens took to the streets in anger over a government decision that has more than doubled fuel prices in the largely impoverished country.

Some of the protests over the end of fuel subsidies Monday were marred by clashes with police that left some wounded and a handful dead, protesters said.

A Nigerian Red Cross official said Tuesday five people had been killed in Benin City, in southern Nigeria, in clashes related to the protests.

Dan Enowoghomwenma, joint secretary of the Edo state branch of the Red Cross, told CNN three people died Monday and two Tuesday, as different communities clashed in the city.

One mosque building was burned and another vandalized, with cars and buses also set alight, before the police and military restored calm, he said. He told CNN he did not know if there was a religious motivation for the clashes.

The strike, continued religious violence in the north, and a long-simmering separatist movement are all issues that have created growing problems for Goodluck Jonathan, the country's president.

Protesters took to the streets on Monday, January 9, in a nationwide strike against the Nigerian government's decision to take away fuel subsidies.

Bonfires were set ablaze by protesters outside Lagos State University. iReporter Lawal Adekunle Olusegun said: "I know a lot of people around are suffering and going through a hard time the fuel subsidy is only making things worse for a lot of people."

This picture, taken by iReporter Medaiyese Olorunjuwon shows the armed forces monitoring protesters in the city of Ilorin, Kwara State capital. Olorunjuwon said: "The protesters were cheering the armed forces... All in all it was peaceful."

During the rally in Ilorin, Kwara State, demonstrators displayed a mock coffin, while demanding the government bring back fuel subsidies.

IReporter Patrick Gbenga captured the protest scenes in the Nigerian city of Akure, capital of the Ondo state.

Gbenga said: "Thousands of people took to the street of Akure... it is part of me to fight against injustice."

An 83-year-old woman joins the protest rally at Liberation Square in Kano State.

The nationwide strike comes after days of protesting across the country. Gas prices have more than doubled following the government's decision to take away fuel subsidies.

Adjarho David Obaro, who is currently in Nigeria for the holidays, took photos of the protests near King's Square in Benin City on Thursday, January 5. He said there were thousands of protesters there from different backgrounds.

"I saw raw anger in the eyes of the protesters with regards to the increase in prices of good (and) services as a result of the subsidy removal," said Obaro.

iReporter Victor Iyamu took this photo at the protest in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, on Thursday, January 5. Iyamu says he is not participating in the protest but that he does support the protesters and their cause.

The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trades Union Congress urged the government to immediately restore the subsidies -- or see the country grind to a halt starting January 9.

After learning about the fuel subsidy protests from Twitter on Tuesday, iReporter Kfire decided to join the crowds in Lagos. "The aim of the protest was to disrupt vehicular movement, shut down gas stations and ask people to go back home," he said.

"The mood was one of anger and frustration towards the government for doing this on New Year's Day," Kfire said.

Freelance journalist Mohammed Bashir observed the large protest in his town of Lokoja, Nigeria, on Tuesday, January 3. He snapped this photo with his BlackBerry as hundreds gathered in the street.

Obi Akwukwuma, 47, observed the demonstrations at King's Square in Benin City on Thursday, January 5. Akwukwuma, who works on an engineering project nearby, took this photo with his BlackBerry as demonstrators protested the removal of fuel subsidy.

iReport: Occupy Nigeria protests

"My fellow Nigerians, the truth is that we're faced with two basic choices with regards to the management of the petroleum sector," Jonathan said. "Survive economically or continue with a subsidy regime that will continue to undermine our economy."

But assurances from the president did not allay fears from many Nigerians who do not trust the government to use the money to improve the country's infrastructure.

In the northern Nigerian state of Kano, a physician who was among the protesters said police fired on protesters, injuring at least 13 people.

Demonstrators were gathered listening to speeches Monday when police "suddenly came and some were shooting and some were throwing tear gas," Shehi Ali, vice chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association said.

Ali said one protester, a 12-year-old boy, was shot in the neck. Another protester was shot in the groin, he said.

But Kano Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris denied that officers fired on protesters. He said that officers were forced to use tear gas on "miscreants and drug addicts" who had tried to storm the governor's residence.

Elsewhere, there were more conflicting reports about the violence. Sanya Femi, a union official, said three union members had been killed by police gunfire during a peaceful protest in Lagos. But Sunday Salailo, a trade union president, said he had no reports of union members dying.

Some analysts say the changes could help Nigeria in the future.

"If they're prepared to try this petroleum subsidy removal then perhaps they can push through electricity reform too. If they do that, Nigeria's growth can be instead of 7-8% a year, 10 or 11%," said Charlie Robertson, a chief economist at the global investment firm Renaissance Capital.

But many Nigerians view the subsidy as the only benefit of living in an oil-producing country that has little infrastructure, poor roads, high unemployment and intermittent electric power.

"Though we know that in the long run, removal of (the) subsidy will help the economy, for now it is a high-profile lifestyle that is unbearable for most Nigerians, and soon the poorer ones will die out," said protester Diane Awunah.

CNN's John Defterios and journalist Vladimir Duthiers contributed to this report.