The protest against hardship and hunger, which began peacefully on Thursday, August 1, took a violent turn in Nyanya, Abuja, as clashes erupted between demonstrators and the Nigerian Army.
Eyewitnesses reported that the initial gathering at the popular Nyanya bridge was peaceful, with protesters voicing their concerns about the worsening economic conditions in the country.
However, the situation escalated rapidly when a group of individuals within the crowd began vandalizing public properties, including street lights.
They also hurled stones at the Nigerian Army, who had been deployed to maintain order.
The violence disrupted the peaceful demonstration, causing chaos and fear among the attendees.
Witnesses described scenes of pandemonium, with people scrambling for safety as the confrontation intensified.
The violent group was reportedly heard shouting “Bamayi,” a local term meaning “We are no longer interested.”
It remains unclear whether these individuals were part of the original protest or had infiltrated the demonstration with malicious intent.
As the violence unfolded, the Nigerian Army faced resistance from the aggressive faction of protesters.
The unrest raised concerns about the security situation, prompting calls for calm and restraint from all parties involved.
