The Fury Virus

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Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Nigeria Thursday to protest against the rising cost of living, as the country continues to grapple with high inflation and the devaluation of its currency in the wake of reforms by President Bola Tinubu aimed at reviving the economy, Al Jazeera reported.

Demonstrations took place in cities across Nigeria with police firing tear gas to disperse crowds in the capital, Abuja. Violent incidents were also reported in Yobe and Kano states where authorities declared a 24-hour curfew properties were looted and many vehicles were burned.

In the western Niger state, local media reported that at least six people died during clashes with police, according to CNN.

The #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria online protest movement has been growing because Nigerians are struggling with food inflation of 40 percent and fuel prices that have tripled since Tinubu introduced the reforms last year, analysts say.

Protesters and organizers have presented a list of 19 demands. Chief among them is the reinstatement of a state subsidy on fuel products, which many demonstrators blame for the current crisis.

Other demands include improving the security crisis in northern Nigeria, where Islamist groups and armed bandits have been terrorizing locals. During the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu pledged to end the conflict in those areas, but attacks and kidnappings are still ongoing 14 months after he took office, according to the Associated Press.

The demonstrations were planned to last 10 days, but organizers warned they will continue until their demands are met.

In an effort to mitigate economic woes, the government announced measures to alleviate the situation Wednesday, including delivering grain to various Nigerian states and aid to the poor.

Thursday’s anti-government protests follow similar ones across other African nations in recent weeks, prompting fears of potential violence and a crackdown by authorities.

Demonstrations in Kenya turned violent late last month, when protesters stormed the country’s parliament and set part of the building on fire.

Those protests were targeted at Kenyan President William Ruto’s proposed tax hikes, which he later repealed following popular unrest.

Meanwhile, young Ugandans demonstrated across the country last week against government corruption, prompting authorities to arrest dozens of people, Reuters added.