Minna protest: Three killed as youths block Bida-Minna road

Three persons were reportedly killed within 12 hours after youths took to the streets in protest, blocking the Minna-Bida Highway leading to a traffic gridlock in Minna, Niger State.

The protest, which began on Saturday night, reportedly continued into Sunday morning as the situation escalated in parts of the state capital.

It was gathered that hundreds of youths took to the streets following an alleged shooting of one of them by a member of vigilante group during an altercation while on night patrol.

The situation reportedly became tense following the death of two other persons during the protest, triggering another round of unrest in the Gbeganu area of Minna.

A resident of the area, Mallam Baba, told the Nigerian Tribune that the youths mobilised shortly after news filtered in that one of their members, identified as Aliyu, had been killed.

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According to him, the youths began the protest at about 10pm on Saturday and continued into Sunday morning, during which two more persons were reportedly killed.

He said the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two other persons remained unclear as the situation had become increasingly chaotic.

The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, saying, “On 3rd October 2026 at about 10.30pm, vigilante men mobilised to Kpakungu area to arrest some miscreants and in the process, one of the vigilant members shot one Aliyu dead. This led to some protests within the area.

“Police were mobilised to the location and normalcy was restored, while effort to arrest the vigilante man is ongoing. Unfortunately at the early hours of the following day, being 4th October 2026, some of the miscreants mobilised and blocked Bida-Minna road in the name of protest, also moved to Gbeganu area and attacked residents in the area.

“In the course of the attack, it was reported that two persons lost their lives. Police were drafted to the area, the rioters were dispersed and the road was cleared for free flow of traffic.”