Protesters in the northern Nigerian city of Kano have faced police violence as they demonstrated against skyrocketing prices for fuel. On Jan. 5, police fired tear gas into the crowd, drove into it with military vans, and beat demonstrators, wounding about 300 according to Audu Bulama, a protest organizer.
The oil-rich country has been wracked by protests after the government announced that it would end fuel subsidies on Jan. 1. Oil prices doubled following the announcement.
The move faces widespread opposition, with major labor unions threatening to shut down the country unless it is rescinded. On Jan. 4, demonstrators in Kano shut down gas stations and marched toward the state governor’s office before being blocked by police. The crowd then occupied Silver Jubilee Square, the city’s main public square, which they re-named Liberation Square.
The wealth generated by Nigeria’s vast oil reserves does not reach the masses of people, with most earning only $2 a day.
