Naira scarcity: Three killed as protest hits Edo

Three persons have been killed in a protest in Benin, Edo state capital, over the scarcity of naira notes.

The protest took place in Oluku, Upper Sakponba, and New Benin market.

A horde of protesters also converged at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office located at Akpakpava road, Ring Road axis, and blocked the road leading to the bank.

Security operatives at the CBN office were said to have shot tear gas canisters at the protesters to disperse them, resulting in violence.

At the New Benin market, traders barricaded the major road, chanting protest songs to make known their opposition to the naira redesign policy.

A resident said that many shops at the New Benin market are currently closed owing to the protest.

At Upper Sakponba, the protesters blocked the major road in the area while creating bonfires with tyres.

Some protesters were said to have been killed after security operatives were mobilised to disperse the demonstrations, but Chidi Nwabuzor, Edo police spokesperson, told TheCable that senior officers are on the field to get information on the incidents.

“Regarding the question you made if there was any death… I won’t want to feed you with information that is not fact. I would rather wait for senior officers who are currently in the field querying this riot and protecting the lives and property of the citizen to return so I will have first-class information,” TheCable quoted him as saying.