Three die after thousands take to Nigeria’s streets

NIGERIAN police and protesters clashed and three people were shot dead as tens of thousands demonstrated nationwide over fuel price hikes and a general strike shut down the country.

The launch of what unions called an indefinite strike came at a crucial moment for Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, already hit by spiralling violence blamed on Islamist sect Boko Haram.

Tensions ran high in Kano, the largest northern city, when thousands converged on the state governor’s office, prompting police to push them back as they fired tear gas and shot into the air.

Also in Kano, two vans were set ablaze and protesters tried to torch the home of central bank chief Lamido Sanusi, but police stopped them.

The office of the secretary of the state government — its highest administrative officer — was also set ablaze.

A Red Cross official said 30 injured people were counted in Kano, 18 with gunshot wounds. A hospital source said later two of those shot had died.

In the southern city of Benin, protesters attacked a mosque and wounded several people, leading police to fire tear gas, police and witnesses said.

The strike came after the government’s deeply controversial move to end fuel subsidies on January 1, which caused petrol prices to more than double in a country where most of the 160 million population lives on less than $2 a day.

Transport costs have followed suit, sharply increasing the price of commuting, and further effects were feared, especially on the cost of food.