By Ayo Okulaja, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, Nigeria
Two unarmed civilians were on Tuesday killed by officers of the Nigerian Police Force as the nation comes to grip with another day of successive nationwide protests over the hike in fuel price. The deceased were shot by the officers in Ibafo; a community on the outskirt of Ogun state, Southwest Nigeria. The incident occurred as the police officers approached the road blockage set-up by the protesters on the highway. The officers were alleged to have shot directly into the crowd of protesters.
This brings to over 10 lives that have been lost to extra-judicial killings since the nationwide strike commenced on Monday. The strike was called by the nation's labour union as it demands a reversal of the fuel price which was increased by 100% following the withdrawal of subsidy paid to import the fuel.
Some states in Northern Nigerian, which are already battling with collapsed security raged by the Islamic sect; Boko Haram, have imposed a dusk to dawn curfew to prevent further break down of violence.
The Kaduna state government, annonuced a 24hour curfew and a similar curfew had subsited in Kano state since Monday, while Zamfara state invoked the curfew, only in the state's capital; Gusau. Oyo state in the Southwest region of the country, has also declared a 12hour curfew.
According to a statement from the governor's office in Kaduna ''the declaration of the dusk to dawn curfew became necessary because some miscreants hijacked the peaceful protest as people were harassed and intimidated while properties were vandalised'', hence the curfew.
The labour union has enjoined the people to obey the curfew and ''sit at home to change the strategy from, street protest to sit at home.''
Nigeria is the second largest producer of crude oil in Africa and eighth in the world, yet the 35million litres of refined petroleum consumed by its 160million population is imported due to lack functional refineries.
The federal government has maintained an artificial price of fuel at N65 for over five years by subsidy but it now claims, the cost of the subsidy-which summed up to N1.3trillion in 2011-is draining its resources at the expense of a much needed infrastructural development. The government in a surprise New Year gift announced the removal of the subsidy which increased the fuel price to N145 and above.
Labour groups are demanding a reversal to the old price of N65 before the strike will be called off before negotiations can occur on the way further.
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