The Nationwide Hardship Protest organized by youths across the country have witnessed destructions of properties, vandalisations and mass looting today.
In Kano, it was learned that hoodlums looted the newly built Nigeria Communication Commission Industrial Park in the State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, The vandals targeted the Kano Information and Communication Technology Centre, just days before its scheduled launch, setting it on fire and making off with valuable equipment.
Images shared on social media reveal youths fleeing the area with stolen goods, such as computers, furniture, and electronic devices, in the aftermath of the chaotic protest.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in a response lamented the destruction of the technology hub.
“Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters,” Tijani stated in a post via X on Thursday.
He added “Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week, Millions of Naira down the drain,”.
Also, in Niger State, The Police Command nabbed eleven violent protesters for allegedly attempting to set ablaze Tafa Local Government Secretariat during the nationwide protests.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed to newsmen in Minna on Thursday that the hoodlums partially burnt part of the secretariat and looted valuable items.
He stated that at about 9:30am, a group of individuals from Tafa, Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State, and Hayin-Diko, Gurara Council Area, Niger, forcibly entered the secretariat premises situated in Sabon-Wuse, adjacent to the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
According to him, hoodlums vandalised and partially set ablaze the secretariat, burnt two vehicles as well as vandalised two others.
He further said the miscreants went further to loot valuables inside offices in the secretariat, adding that in the process, police and other security agencies responded to the scene.
Abiodun said that eleven miscreants were nabbed with different dangerous weapons, including firearms while others were dispersed from the scene and some of the looted items were recovered.
He urged parents, residents, and the general public to advise their children and wards against participating in violent demonstrations and vandalizing public property, emphasizing that such behavior would not be condoned or tolerated.
The minister characterised the damage as a setback for the journey to deepening the workforce for technology and creating job opportunities for the youth.
Meanwhile, In Katsina metropolis, it was also learned that a group of youths took to the streets to protest economic hardship, resulting in the torching of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) vehicle. The vehicle, which had broken down while on patrol, was left on the road and set ablaze by the protesters.
