Curfew imposed in Nigeria's central city

LAGOS - The Nigerian authority imposed a curfew in the central city of Minna on Wednesday, as the strike against the removal of fuel subsidy entered the third day in the West African country.

The anti-subsidy withdrawal protest in Minna, the capital of Niger State, assumed a violent dimension on Wednesday, when protesters burnt the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other property belonging to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials.

The protest, which was hijacked by hoodlums, was prevented from degenerating further by the police who dislodged the protesters when they also attempted to force their way into the Government House.

Burnt along with the INEC buildings by the rampaging youths were eight vehicles, while 15 others parked within the premises were vandalized.

Other property burnt include the chambers of a PDP official, the 2011 campaign office of Governor Babangida Aliyu and the residence of Sen. Dahiru Awaisu, where vehicles parked within the premises were set ablaze.

The youths blocked major roads, burning tyres and smashing vehicles.

The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters and later cleared the blocked roads, while the protesters moved from one part of the city to another.

State police spokesperson Richard Oguche told reporters that normalcy had been restored in the city, and promised to give more details later.

Also, the state chairman for the labor, Yahaya Ndako, said the unions were studying the situation and would issue a statement later.

The state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state to forestall further violent attacks by hoodlums.

A statement by the state government said the curfew was to stop the activities of hoodlums who had hijacked the protest.

"Miscreants and hoodlums have decided to take the law into their hands by creating bonfires on the streets of Minna and torching public and private property," the statement said.

"Following the ugly development, government has responsibility to protect lives and property, and has therefore decided to impose the curfew in all the 25 local government areas of the state," it added.

The statement said only persons on essential services who should carry proper identification were exempted from the restriction.