#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Amnesty International condemns killing of 13 protesters

Amnesty International has denounced the deaths of 13 protesters, reportedly caused by security forces in Nigeria, labeling the events as both unjustifiable and intolerable.

Isa Sanusi, the Country Director, made this announcement in a statement released on Friday. He emphasized that Nigerian authorities must conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation into these occurrences and ensure that any security personnel implicated in the alleged excessive use of force are prosecuted fairly.

The organization highlighted that the fatalities took place in Suleja, Niger State, resulting in six deaths and numerous injuries; Maiduguri, where four individuals lost their lives; and Kaduna, which witnessed three fatalities.

Amnesty International has raised alarms regarding the escalating antagonism of Nigerian officials towards opposition voices and the ongoing suppression of the right to peaceful assembly.

According to our research, it appears that security forces at sites where fatalities occurred employed lethal tactics when confronting groups protesting against hunger and severe poverty, the statement noted.

The organization urged the Nigerian government to implement tangible measures to mitigate the effects of recent reforms on economic, social, and cultural rights, particularly concerning individuals’ rights to health and education.

All individuals detained for their involvement in the protests should be released without delay or conditions. Sanusi emphasized that authorities need to put an end to the widespread infringements on citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and free expression.

In response to these claims, the Niger State Police Command issued a statement through its Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, on Thursday.

The report acknowledged the disorder that erupted at the Tafa Local Government Council Secretariat, where troublemakers engaged in looting, vandalism, and partially set fire to the building.

It also noted that several vehicles were damaged and burned as security forces intervened by making arrests and dispersing the offenders.

Abiodun stated that there were no fatalities reported during this operation; protesters were dispersed with minimal force.

However, he mentioned that a few troublemakers sustained minor injuries during a stampede and were subsequently taken to nearby medical facilities for care.