The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reacted to the killing of protesters in the Suleja area of Niger State.
Reports emerged earlier that at least six protesters were shot dead, with many others sustaining injuries in the ongoing hardship protest in Suleja.
The victims were killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted a barricade on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway, trapping motorists for several hours.
However, an uproar occurred after the arrival of the reinforcement team, which was sent to restore sanity to the area.
A resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, identified as Yahaya Nda Isah, was reportedly hit by a stray bullet while on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division, where protesters had assembled.
A nephew of the deceased who spoke with Daily Trust said his uncle was on his bike without joining the ongoing protest when the bullet fired to disperse the protesters hit him on his chest, and he died on the spot.
Reacting to the tragic incident, the Chairman of the Suleja branch of NBA, Abdullahi Liman, told journalists in a telephone conversation that, as directed by the National president of the NBA, he had gone to the residence of one of the deceased, Yahaya Nda Isah, to get credible information for further action.
He said: “The national level of the NBA has asked all the branches to constitute monitoring committees in respect of the protest.
“So, we are going around to see what is really happening. I got information that a man was shot dead, and I came to the house of the victim (Yahaya Nda Isah) to confirm things for myself, and I have seen the corps.
“So, what we are doing now is to gather information in respect of the incident and I will reach out to the national level so that we know what to do next in respect of the issue. This cannot be denied.”
