Sam Kaye
About 15 end hunger and bad government protesters including a soldier may have lost their lives in Maiduguri on the first day of the planned ten days protests.
While about nine of them lost their lives today at the Yan-nono area, the others who dared to penetrate government sensitive assets like the electricity gas powered plant in bolori which generates electricity for the capital were shot at on sight by soldiers.
Sources alleged that four of the hoodlums dared to penetrate the electricity generation plant on Baga road when soldiers guarding the entrance fired live ammunition to disperse them.
This reporter also learnt that desperate hoodlums trying to hijack the movement of protesters into the mechanical workshop in the same Baga road of Bolori were shot by security personnel who were armed to the teeth to ensure that properties were not carted away in the name of protest.
Eye witnesses of the area who spoke to this reporter said that Just about two hours to the slamming of a 24 hour curfew on the metropolis by the government, some of the protesters went wild and changed into a violent rage daring to even penetrate lots of more sensitive government areas which explains why they were shot by security agents.
The alleged hoodlums were mostly young people and some kids who actually started the protests peacefully but went wild when the police shot canisters of teargas at them provoking violence and subsequent misbehaviour which is why they were shot at.
Meanwhile most of the other council areas in the southern senatorial zones were said to have enjoyed a peaceful first day of the protests as at dusk today.
Fallout of the protests in Borno
However updates released by intelligence sources revealed that everyone was indoors as a result of the aftermath of the protest and the 24 hour curfew imposed on residents by the State Government to restore order and prevent further escalation of violence.
Key findings by intelligence sources from the protest however indicate that Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) warehouses like the World food Program (WFP) were infiltrated by protesters who looted food and non-food items inside them.
“WFP warehouse along Baga Road was infiltrated by protesters resulting in the looting of food and non-food items.
“The primary health care centre beside Modu sulumri, of Jere LGA, being MSF and IRC community support center was attacked by protesters, but MSF staff ran with their two vehicles and one Ambulance, and protesters carted goods away.
“Sources reported that ten Civilians and Two Borno State Traffic management (BOTMA) officials were killed around the West-end area while one soldier was killed at Baga Road.
“Four corpses were discovered at Bolori Junction in Maiduguri, suspected to be as a result of a bomb blast and possible Infiltration by insurgents.
“An unexploded device was discovered around Moduganari by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp Borno Command and one suspect has been arrested in connection with this incident.” Said our source.
Other fallout of the protests in the Borno capital was the burning down of a police vehicle in front of the College of education Maiduguri while an Immigration Officer accidentally shot himself on the leg at the Bulumkutu area of capital
“Protesters attempted to invade Zara Plaza and the New GRA area, near the home of the Vice President Kashim Shettima but security Agencies successfully prevented these attempts, averting further potential violence.”
As at dusk on thursday security forces had heightened surveillance across the state capital while residents were equally on red alert.