Ibadan Hardship Protest: One Dies As Soldiers Shoot At Protesters

By Ayodele Oni

The protest over Naira swap, which started in Ibadan, Oyo state on Friday, has taken a new dimension as some soldiers reportedly shot at some of the protesters on Saturday.

Report has it that there was pandemonium in the capital city of Oyo State, after some officers of the Nigerian Army reportedly fired gunshot at one of the youths protesting the fuel and naira notes scarcity in the city.

The development has reportedly caused tension in the city as residents scamper for safety.

The Soldiers  reportedly shot one of the youths who died instantly and another injured while protesting the fuel and naira notes scarcity in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Eyewitness report indicates that the incident happened in the early hours of Saturday.

The eyewitness explained that they only saw soldiers’ vehicles pass through Brent, and all they heard were gunshots.

“Everyone ran for their lives; some lay on the floor to prevent stray bullets.”

The eyewitness also revealed that a stray bullet hit a young man identified as Samuel, a commercial motorcyclist, who allegedly died instantly.

Another female casualty is presently receiving treatment at Lafia Hospital in the NNPC area.

The protests in Ibadan started Friday as residents trooped out to lament the current hardship in the country.

Many businesses have been grounded following the naira swap programme by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a means to easily take away from the public, the old N1000, N500 and N200 notes.