(dailynewyorknews) – Nigerians took to the streets for the second day of a nationwide strike Tuesday, showing their outrage at the government decision that has over fuel prices doubled in the mostly poor countries.
Some protests at the end of fuel subsidies have been affected by the clashes that left 16 dead and 205 wounded, according to a statement obtained Tuesday by the Red Cross in Nigeria.
The strike continued religious violence in the north and a separatist movement, are longstanding issues that have generated more and more problems for Goodluck Jonathan, President of the country, fueled tensions on the streets.
The southern state of Edo was a priority for most of the violence, according to figures from the Red Cross, with five fatalities and 83 injured.
The situation is tense amid rumors that the Northerners will be attacked, and some 4,000 people fled their homes to take refuge in camps, the Red Cross report says.
Enowoghomwenma Dan, deputy secretary of the Edo State branch of the Red Cross, told CNN that three people were killed Monday and two on Tuesday that different communities clashed in the state capital, Benin City.
A building of the mosque was burned and looted another, with cars and buses on fire before police restored calm and the military said. He told CNN he did not know if there was a religious motivation for fighting.
Meanwhile, the situation in the state of Kano in northern Nigeria was “generally chaotic” Tuesday, said the Red Cross, with three deaths and 55 injured, some with gunshot wounds.
Police in the neighboring state of Kaduna, where one person was killed and three injured in gas, tear to try to disperse protesters gathered outside Government House, the Red Cross.
In the southwest, violence erupted in some rallies in Lagos, the commercial capital, as protesters clashed with police, and seven wounded and three killed, said the Red Cross.
Three deaths have been reported in Bauchi, Kwara and one, according to figures from the Red Cross. Other states reported events were largely peaceful, despite the outbreak of vandalism and protesters burned tires and blocked roads.
Erom Egbejule CNN iReport, a freelance journalist from Nigeria, attended a concert in Lagos Tuesday protests organized by musician Femi Kuti, son of legendary Fela Kuti, and said he was proud to be there.
“Nigeria enjoys peace and we are protesting peacefully, although the Nigerian police and army have caused injuries and in some cases, killed innocent people,” said Egbejule.
“The revolution is reaching the people of Nigeria and the youth is at the forefront. Until our demands are met, we are ready to protest every day and make sacrifices.”
Jonathan tried to explain the need for the end of subsidies in a recent speech, saying that Nigerians that the government would invest the money in the deteriorating infrastructure.
“My fellow Nigerians, the truth is that we are faced with two basic options for the management of the oil sector,” said Jonathan. “To survive economically, or continue with a system of subsidies that continue to undermine our economy.”
However, the president’s assurances to allay the fears of many Nigerians do not trust the government to use the money to improve infrastructure.
Another CNN iReport, 38, filmmaker and web designer Oladapo Bamidele, who filmed the protests on Monday in Lagos, said that Nigerians have lost confidence in the government of Jonathan.
“Nigerians are united in this cause to see corruption addressed, and finally retired,” he said.
There were also complaints of the protesters that the police responded too aggressively.
In Kano, a doctor who was among the protesters, police said Monday they fired into the crowd, injuring at least 13 people.
Protesters gathered to hear the speech when the police “suddenly and some were shot and some tear gas,” said Ali Shehi, vice president of the Medical Association of Nigeria.
Ali said one protester, a 12-year-old was shot in the neck. Another protester was shot in the groin, he said.
However, the police commissioner of Kano, Ibrahim Idris has denied that the agents fired at the demonstrators. He said officers were forced to use tear gas to “criminals and drug addicts” who tried to take by assault the governor’s residence.
On the other hand, there have been conflicting reports about violence. Femi Sanya, a union leader said three trade unionists were killed by police gunfire during a peaceful demonstration in Lagos on Monday. But Salailo Sunday, a union president, said he had no reports of union members to die.
Some analysts say the changes could help Nigeria in the future.
“If they are willing to try this removal of oil subsidies so maybe I can push through the reform of the electricity as well. If they do, the growth of Nigeria may instead of 7% -8% per year, 10 % or 11%, “said Charlie Robertson, chief economist at global investment firm Renaissance Capital.
However, many Nigerians regard to the grant that the only advantage of living in an oil producing country has poor infrastructure, poor roads, high unemployment and intermittent electricity.
“While we know that in the long term, the elimination of (the) grant will help the economy, now is a style of high-profile life is unbearable for most Nigerians, and soon most of the poor die “said protester Diane Awunah.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/10/world/africa/nigeria-strike/index.html?hpt=iaf_c1
