NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Nigerian Streets On Fire, Borders Ordered Closed

-Masterweb Reports

Angry protesters set up burning tire roadblocks on major streets and highways in Lagos demanding reversal of fuel subsidy removal. They also demand government must fight corruption. The flaming tires sent thick black smoke over much of Ikoyi Island, the residential home of foreign diplomats and wealthy Nigerians. The city is tense after a protester was shot dead by police on Monday. "This is oligarchy, this is not a democracy! We are no longer afraid of you! We are ready for war!" shouted Danjuma Mohammed, as he stood by a roadblock fire with rocks in his hands. Protesters in Ikoyi Tuesday morning chanted: "They will kill us and we will kill them!" They threw rocks at an unarmed police convoy that was dispatched to put out their burning-tire roadblock. Police managed to put out some of the flame and the rest was put out by an armed convoy escorting an important dignitary. The officers cocked their Kalashnikov rifles, dispersing the protesters which gave them room to put out the rest of the flaming blockade with fire extinguishers. The protesters re-emerged as the convoy drove-off.

The protests officially started Monday by labour unions over high fuel prices, a resultant of fuel subsidy removal, have claimed several lives from police gun shots. Labour Unions in the northern city of Kano cancelled protests after five people were killed by police. Many businesses remain closed in major cities across the country, including the capital, Abuja. While most businesses shut their doors, some international flights are leaving Lagos and Abuja international airports. It is unclear whether those leaving are on scheduled flights or fleeing the country. Labour unions said the protests would continue until government restored fuel subsidies.

Over 10,000 people participated in one protest rally in Lagos, while tens of thousands more marched in streets across the nation. Some protesters wore shirts bearing symbols for a loose-knit group called "Occupy Nigeria". Oil production continues in Nigeria, however oil workers union is also planning a strike.

Nigeria closed its borders after President Goodluck Jonathan met with security chiefs on the crisis situation in the country and United Nations report warning Boko Haram may have established links with the north African affiliate of Al Qaeda. The border closures are designed to prevent infiltration by such groups. On Tuesday night, gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram opened fire on customers at a beer parlour in the town of Potiskum in Yobe State, killing twelve, among them four policemen.

Boko Haram whose name in Hausa language means "western education is sinful" is modeled after Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. It wants to impose sharia law across Nigeria through terror attacks in drawing attention to their demands.

Article Source: Masterweb Reports

Photo Above: Fuel Protesters Burn Tyres in Lagos

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