Violence Erupts In Ibadan As Residents Protest Over Petrol, Naira Notes Scarcity [Video]

Residents of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, have blocked major roads and set bonfires while protesting over the hardship imposed on them by the new naira notes and persistent fuel scarcity.

It was gathered that the protesters, in their hundreds, blocked the Iwo Road Interchange, frontage of the State Secretariat at Agodi, and other major roads in the city.

At the state secretariat, the fierce-looking youths forcefully opened the gate and moved into the complex, heading straight to the Governor’s office situated within the complex.

They were, however, prevented from gaining entrance into the governor’s office due to quick response from the security personnel manning the gates.

In the town, the protesters obstructed the major roads, thereby hindering free vehicular movement, which left many commuters stranded.

At Iwo Road Interchange, suspected hoodlums have hijacked the protest which has now turned violent.

New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they were seen blocking all the adjoining roads, burning tyres and harassing motorists and commuters.

At the Gate/Bus Stop and Idi- Ape axis, the protesters blocked the roads, diverting vehicles from the direction.

NAN also reports that a cross section of the protesters attributed their actions to the frustrations being faced in the banks and filling stations.

As at the time of filling this report, the protest was spreading to other parts of the city.

The patrol vehicles of security agencies, particularly the police were seen moving toward Iwo Road and Idiape areas of the city to restore normalcy.

Commenting, Mr Olu Akindele, an Artisan, said he spent the whole day at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) point in one of the banks at Iwo Road on Thursday and was unable to get cash.

According to him, the ATM was not dispensing, but I waited for hours, hoping that the bank officials would load it.

“We Nigerians have been contending with fuel and new naira-notes scarcity for weeks across the country. I believe it is time for the government to take positive step to address the twins challenges we are battling with,” he said.

A POS operator, Miss Funmi Irewole, also expressed frustration as she could not withdraw either the old or new notes from her deposit before extension of the deadline.

Irewole called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, review its policy on the new naira-notes to alleviate the sufferings of the citizens.

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This comes barely 24 hours after the Minister of Housing and Works, Babatunde Fashola sympathized with Nigerians over the scarcity of the new Naira notes in the country.