Lagos , Nigeria ( CNN ) -- Police and protesters clashed across Nigeria on Monday amid a nationwide strike and widespread protests over a government decision that more than doubled fuel prices in the largely impoverished country . Among other incidents , police reportedly fired on protesters in the northern Nigerian state of Kano , injuring at least 13 people , according to a physician who was among the protesters . Demonstrators were gathered listening to speeches when police `` suddenly came and some were shooting and some were throwing tear gas , '' Shehi Ali , vice chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association , told CNN . Ali said one protester , a 12-year-old boy , was shot in the neck . Another protester was shot in the groin , he said . `` We were trying to re-enact what took place in Egypt at Tahrir Square , '' Ali said of what had been peaceful protests . Kano Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris denied that officers fired on protesters . He said that officers were forced to use tear gas on `` miscreants and drug addicts '' who had tried to storm the governor 's residence . `` These people were trying to take advantage of the situation and loot , they are criminals , '' he told CNN . The protests have otherwise been largely peaceful , and officers were working alongside the Nigeria Labour Congress , one of the groups staging the nationwide strikes , Idris said . Elsewhere , Sanya Femi , a union official , said three union members had been killed by police gunfire during a peaceful protest in Lagos . But Sunday Salailo , a trade union president , said he had no reports of union members dying . There was no immediate comment from Nigerian authorities on those accounts of violence . Lagos , a city of nearly 8 million people , was eerily quiet Monday afternoon . With many businesses shut down amid a call for a nationwide strike , few cars traveled the city 's normally teeming roads . Residents had packed stores on Sunday , laying in supplies in anticipation of the protests and strikes , The Guardian newspaper of Nigeria reported . The commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps , Ade Abolurin , deployed 43,000 members of the paramilitary force and 160,000 volunteers in response to the planned strike and protests , warning protesters `` against indulging in criminal activities , '' according to a notice posted on the organization 's Facebook page . The protests and strikes follow the government 's January 1 decision to remove fuel subsidies in the country , which is Africa 's largest oil producer . Read about what is behind the fuel strike . Citizens of Africa 's most populous nation have staged `` Occupy Nigeria '' mass demonstrations since the decision , with police responding forcefully in some cases . `` I am not an economist , but it is clear common sense that the removal of fuel subsidy , even if it seems to be the easiest solution , is not even an option , '' said Hadiza Halliru , an Abuja protester . `` The fuel hike , which has doubled and even tripled in some states , would affect not only transportation but the price of foodstuff , clothing , any form of direct labor , construction costs . But salaries still remain the same , which means everyone who directly pays bills will be affected , especially the middle class and the poor . '' Many Nigerians view the subsidy as the only benefit of living in an oil-producing country that has little infrastructure , poor roads , high unemployment and intermittent electric power . Are you there ? Share your story . `` Though we know that in the long run , removal of subsidy will help the economy , for now it is a high-profile lifestyle that is unbearable for most Nigerians , and soon the poorer ones will die out , '' said protester Diane Awunah , who lives in Abuja . Money saved by removing the subsidy will help improve public amenities and build much-needed infrastructure , said Reuben Abati , a spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan . But there is a widespread lack of trust in the government to provide the infrastructure -- Nigeria is regularly voted among the most corrupt countries in the world . The nation produces around 2.4 million barrels of crude oil a day , but it imports roughly 70 % of its gasoline from countries as far afield as the United Kingdom and Venezuela , because most of its own refineries are inoperative after years of corruption-fueled neglect . In a televised address , Jonathan urged citizens to avoid `` mindless acts of violence '' and said he empathized with those protesting against the government 's decision to cut fuel subsidies . `` If I were in your shoes , I probably would ... hold the same critical views about government , '' the president said Saturday . The government has shunned calls to resume the subsidy , and it has ordered the distribution of mass transit buses to major cities . Jonathan said the decision to cut the subsidies will benefit the public in the future . The U.S. Embassy in Abuja warned Americans to stockpile food , conserve fuel and delay travel while the strike and protests are ongoing . CNN 's Stephanie Busari , CNN iReport 's Christina Zdanowicz and journalist Vladimir Duthiers contributed to this report .
NEW : At least 13 injured in a subsidy protest in northern Thailand . Conflicting reports say some protesters have died in clashes with police . The government 's decision to remove the subsidy has more than doubled fuel prices . Government : The removal will help fund infrastructure .