Amnesty International reported on Friday that 13 protesters were allegedly killed by security forces across Nigeria on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protests. The human rights organization condemned the killings, calling them “unjustified and unacceptable.”
Isa Sanusi, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, emphasized the need for a thorough and impartial investigation into the incidents.
“The Nigerian authorities must investigate these incidents impartially and effectively and ensure that security personnel suspected of responsibility for the alleged deadly use of force are held to account through fair trial,” Sanusi said.
According to Amnesty International, the killings occurred in three locations: Suleja in Niger State, where six individuals were killed and dozens were severely injured; Maiduguri, where four were killed; and Kaduna, where three were killed.
The organization also expressed concern over what it described as the Nigerian authorities’ “growing hostility to dissent” and the “relentless repression of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.”
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Their findings suggest that security personnel at these locations employed tactics aimed at causing fatalities while managing protests over hunger and poverty.
Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to address the economic and social impacts of recent reforms, including issues related to access to health and education.
They also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested protesters and an end to the ongoing violations of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
In response, the Niger State Police Command, through its Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun, acknowledged disturbances at the Tafa Local Government Council Secretariat, where miscreants looted, vandalized, and partially set the building on fire.
Abiodun reported that vehicles were damaged and burned, leading security forces to make arrests and disperse the perpetrators. He stated that no lives were lost during these incidents, with some individuals injured receiving medical treatment and protesters being dispersed with minimal force.