Katsina: One killed, 43 arrested as protesting youths block highway

Angry youths from surrounding villages to Jibiya, headquarters of the Jibiya Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Monday, blocked the Katsina/Jibiya Highway in protest against alleged bandits’ attacks on Sunday, The Punch reports.

The youth, who are from Gangiya and Kuka Babangida, among others, reportedly barricaded the highway for several hours.

Eyewitnesses said the highway was blocked with old tyres, heavy stones and logs of wood, thereby preventing vehicular movement to and from Jibiya through the route.

The highway leads to Zamfara State and Niger Republic.

Although the circumstances surrounding the protest and the alleged bandits’ attack were still sketchy, it was learnt that the angry youths initially gathered at Kuka Babangida village before barricading the highway.

According to The Punch, the state police command later confirmed the arrest of 43 suspects in connection with the protest.

The police also revealed that one man lost his life during the protest, while the protesters burnt down a police border control, a Nigeria Immigration Service post and several vehicles at Daddara village.

A statement by the spokesman for the command, SP Gambo Isah, said normalcy had been restored in the area, while the highway had been reopened to traffic.