The Nigeria Police Force provided a detailed update on Saturday concerning the ongoing nationwide protests against economic hardship, which have led to significant unrest across the country.
The protests, which began on August 1, 2024, turned violent, resulting in numerous casualties, injuries, and arrests.
Beginning on August 1, the #EndBadGovernance protests emerged from widespread discontent over economic conditions and government policies.
With thousands taking to the streets, demonstrators are demanding urgent government intervention to address the soaring cost of living and other socio-economic issues.
Several violent incidents, including deaths and looting, have marred the protests, intensifying the tense situation and prompting calls for an end to the protests.
While the Northern parts of the country have been rocked by the incidents of violence and arson, the South East and South West have largely experienced peaceful rallies.
The Police vehemently dismissed Amnesty International’s report that 13 individuals had lost their lives in the protests.
Instead, the official statement from the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, put the death toll at seven.
“The total number of deaths recorded so far during the protests is seven,” Adejobi stated, adding that nine police officers have sustained various degrees of injuries in attacks by protesters.
Providing a breakdown of the incidents, Adejobi detailed that Borno State witnessed the highest casualties.
“In Borno State, four individuals lost their lives, and thirty-four were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED),” he explained.
He further reported that an unregistered Honda Prelude car ran into a group of protesters, resulting in the deaths of two civilians.
Another fatal incident occurred in the Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where a local vigilante man killed a looter during an attempted robbery of a shop.
According to Adejobi, these are the only fatalities recorded during the protests.
The protests have also been marred by incidents of armed robbery, arson, mischief, and the looting of public institutions and private businesses.
Adejobi stated that a total of 681 individuals have been arrested for various criminal offences, and the police have recovered two AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition from the protesters.
“The ongoing protest has turned violent, and we advise law-abiding citizens to immediately withdraw from the protest,” Adejobi cautioned.
In a particularly tragic incident in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a young boy was reportedly shot and killed by police officers.
The nationwide protests against economic hardship have been driven by widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the economy.
Many Nigerians have taken to the streets to voice their grievances over rising costs of living, unemployment, and perceived corruption.
The situation has rapidly escalated, with various groups joining the protests and security forces responding with force.
Amnesty International’s report of 13 deaths has added fuel to the fire, as the organization continues to monitor and document human rights abuses related to the protests.
The disparity between the figures reported by Amnesty International and the Nigeria Police has raised concerns about the transparency and accuracy of the information being disseminated.
