Two killed, many injured as protesters set APC Secretariat ablaze in Jigawa

By Musa Baba Adamu

At least, two persons were reportedly killed while many others sustained injuries after police fired live ammunition and teargas to disperse protestants in Jigawa State.
Findings by our correspondent shows that the protest took place in over 10 LGAs across the Jigawa State, with reports of destruction and looting of government property.
Reports in Dutse, the state capital, shows that one of the victims was shot in front of Government House, while the other was killed at Shiwarin town when the protesters attempted to close the Maiduguri-Kano Road.
The protesters also set ablaze the All Progressives Congress, APC, headquarters and burnt party vehicles in Dutse, the state capital.
In Hadejia town, a resident disclosed that four people were admitted in hospital as a result of injuries and suffocation they suffered from teargas released by the Police.
He added that Agricultural Supply stores were looted in the area.
In Gumel, the store of the state Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO), the house of the member of the House of Representatives representing Gumel, Gagarawa and Maigarati, as well as the residence of the APC Zonal Vice Chairman, were vandalized and looted by the protesters who overpowered the security agents deployed in the area.
Also, in Birninkudu, two people were injured and fertilizer and grains stores were vandalized and looted by the protesters.
Similarly, in Ringim, Jahun and Kazaure towns, the protesters took to the streets, calling for an end to bad governance.
The 15 – man Committee led by the Leader of the Senate , Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central), made this known to journalists on Thursday at a press briefing on scope of assignment given it and its readiness to unveil the alleged saboteurs in the sector.
Key among the stakeholders in the petroleum sector , summoned to appear before the committee at public hearing fixed for September 10th to September 12th , 2024, are the Minister of State for Petroleum , Senator Heineken Lokpobiri , the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL) , the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) and the Nigeria Ports Authority ( NPA) .
Others are , the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( NMDPRA) , Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC), Nigeria Customs Service , Nigerian Navy , International Oil Companies ( IOCs) , Dangote Group , Capital Oil , Modular Refineries etc .
The Committee was set up by the Senate in plenary on Wednesday , July 3rd , 2024 through resolution adopted after exhaustive debate by Senators on motion sponsored by Senator Azuquo Ekpenyong ( APC Cross River South) on importation of Hazardous Products and dumping of substandard Diesel into Nigeria.
In his speech at the press briefing , Senator Bamidele said : “ The rationale for this news conference is pure and simple.
“ It mainly borders on the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry. including the recent accusations and counter of importation of petroleum products into the country.
“Given its consequences on our domestic economy, the Senate under the able leadership of The President of the Senate,Senator Gadswill Akpabio, constituted this 15-man Ad-hoc Committee to investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry on July 3, 2024.
“ Specifically , the committee as mandated by the Senate ,would examine the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with a view to uncovering loopholes, if any, being exploited to get toxic cargoes into the country.