One person was shot dead and several others injured when armed policemen and soldiers involved in the control of anti-fuel subsidy withdrawal protest invaded Kabawa area of Lokoja on Thursday.

The protesters had gathered at the Freedom Square at about 8.am to continue with their peaceful protest when armed policemen and soldiers arrived and fired tear gas canisters to dislodge them.

Reports alleged that it was in the process of scaring away the protesters that a 25-year-old man identified as Anas Gambo, was shot from behind at Madabo quarters by a security man.

An eyewitness told NAN that the police also went away with the corpse, while several other women and children sustained various degrees of injuries.

NAN also reports that a team of lawyers from the state chapter of the NBA narrowly escaped death when they were attacked by the angry youths, thinking they were NLC leaders who they accused of betrayal.

The team was actually going to the deceased’s home to obtain more information about his death when they ran into the youths.

Two leaders of the Lokoja branch of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) had earlier been picked up by the police on their way to a meeting at the local government secretariat.

The leaders, Abdulahi Ademu and Danladi Mayaki, the President and Vice-President of the NYCN respectively, were on their way to the meeting when they were arrested, according to the Secretary of the council, Mr Abdulkadir Ismaila.

Ismaila urged the police to release the two men immediately in the interest of peace.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, had on Wednesday warned that street protest and blockade of roads would no longer be allowed in Lokoja and other towns.

The warning was sequel to an agreement between the police and the leadership of the NLC and TUC as well as the civil society groups to suspend street protest. (NAN)