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Stray Bullet Kills Protester In Edo
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Commercial Bank Set Ablaze In Warri
As the controversies over the deadline for the use of the old banknotes rage on, Nigerians in fives states of federation are currently embroiled in protest over the scarcity of the new naira notes, and with traders, transporters already rejecting the old naira notes for transactions.
In the early hours of Wednesday, a coalition of civil society, CSOs marched to the CBN’s office in Marina, Lagos.
The protesters who were unruffled with the intimidating presence of security operatives, spread their large banner in front of the CBN office, were chanting a protest song,” all we are saying, give us New notes.”
As at press time, the peaceful protest did not record any casualty as there seems to be a semblance of decorum among the protesters and passers by.
But in Ibadan, Oyo State, rampaging customers and traders at the popular molete market, set burn fire on the road as security operatives were on their trail.
Police officers deployed to keep the peace in the area were forced to release bullets in the air in order to maintain orderliness in the area.
In Edo State, the protesting traders and customers alike who besieged the Central Bank office in Benin city, claimed that their inability to access the new naira notes has collapsed their only source of livelihood.
One casualty was recorded as a strayed bullet reportedly knocked down and killed one of the protesters who is yet to be identified.
An eye witness told The New Diplomat that deceased was a major protester, who in the early hours of the protest handed a letter to the CBN’s management over the need to protest.
The rampaging protesters barricaded the road leading to other parts of the city as they chorused the song:” Give us New notes.”
In Kwara State, trouble started when the traders who in their numbers besieged the banks to make deposit of the old naira notes but were turned down as all entreaties by the traders fell on deaf ears.
The situation which could have been manageable at the popular Gambari road, however degenerated into a full blown protest as the rampaging traders took to the streets, setting burn fires and barricading strategic section of major roads in the city.
In Warri, the Oil rich town in Delta State residents who were traumatized by the ugly development, took to the streets, barricading and setting burn fire on the roads.
A commercial bank in Warri was reportedly set ablaze by the rampaging protesters.
One of the protesters who declined to grant an interview, said the hardship posed by the CBN policy has become unbearable in Warri.
Why Nigerians await the final ruling of the Supreme Court which early this morning, adjourned further hearing of the matter to February 22, the Nigerian populace still need more patience in order to access the new Banknotes.
