Amnesty Int’l claims 13 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters killed Day 1

Amnesty International stated on Friday that 13 protesters were allegedly killed by security forces across Nigeria, on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.

The human rights body condemned the killing calling the incident “unjustified and unacceptable.”

Isa Sanusi, the Country Director, stated this in a statement on Friday.

“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.

The organization reported that the killings took place in Suleja, Niger State, where six individuals were killed and dozens were severely injured; Maiduguri, where four were killed; and Kaduna, where three were killed.

Amnesty International also raised concerns about the Nigerian authorities’ “growing hostility to dissent” and the “relentless repression of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.”

“Our findings, so far, show that security personnel at the locations where lives were lost deliberately used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty,” the statement noted.

The organization urged the Nigerian government to address the impact of recent reforms on economic, social, and cultural rights, including access to health and education.

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“All those arrested for participating in the protests must be released immediately and unconditionally. Authorities must also end the rampant violations of the people’s rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” Sanusi added.

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, and security forces responded by making arrests and dispersing the perpetrators.

Abiodun stated that no lives were lost during these incidents. While some miscreants were injured in the commotion and received medical treatment, there was no report of fatalities, and protesters were dispersed with minimal force.

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