Security agencies in the early hours of Thursday battled with protesters in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
But it is not immediately clear if the demonstrators are part of the #EndBadGovernance protesters that kicked off at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
The protesters in the early hours of Thursday barricaded the main Lokoja – Abuja Expressway preventing vehicular movement in the area.
Some of the motorists had their cars smashed, according to reports.
The main road was blocked around Dagiri, Wazobia Park, and SDP Junction all along the main Expressway.
Security operatives were deployed to the area, with a combined force of police, army, the civil defense and local vigilante seen pursuing some of the hoodlums.
Many of the commuters who are civil servants heading to work in the city had to turn back as vehicles were nowhere in sight to convey them to work. Many were left stranded.
Also, in Lugbe area along the International Airport Road, security operatives battled hoodlums who barricaded the highway around the Police Signboard area. Booming sound of gunshots rented the air for over three hours in the early evening on Thursday. Although eyewitness said that two yet to be identified persons were shot dead, it is yet to be confirmed.
Earlier, we reported that the police had dispersed hoodlums in their large numbers attacking motorists after blocking part of the highway close to the City Gate near Ruga.
The hoodlums numbering about one hundred blocked the highway, and extorted motorists.
They were however dispersed by some policemen on patrol who arrived the scene timely.
But as the police fired canisters of teargas at the daring hoodlums, they threw stones at vehicles and caused a stampede that worsened the traffic jam already built up because of the blockage.
Our Correspondent who observed that the youths were wielding assorted dangerous weapons after they blocked the highway around the City Gate area of the road, noted they also forced motorists to part with their money and other valuables before allowing them to move on.
This went on at about 5pm as the #EndBadGovernance Protest was taking place in the city, Thursday.
