The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the police killings of peaceful protesters demanding an end to hunger and bad governance in Nigeria.
In a statement on Saturday, NLC President Joe Ajaero accused the police of using excessive force and questioned their professionalism, referring to the incidents as a “massacre of citizens”.
Ajaero stated that the security forces have killed at least 40 protesters over the past two days, with unconfirmed reports putting the death toll even higher. He contrasted the police’s “thoughtless brutal precision” against protesters with their failure to act with similar force against bandits and criminals.
The NLC called for the police officers responsible for the killings to be held accountable and for adequate compensation to be paid to the victims’ families. It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested protesters.
Ajaero warned that if the police continue to use live ammunition against peaceful protesters, the NLC will have no choice but to act to protect citizens, implying a potential nationwide strike. He commended the Nigerian Bar Association for directing its human rights committees to monitor the situation.
The NLC’s statement comes amid ongoing nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance that began on August 1. The protests have turned violent in some areas due to the police’s use of force to disperse demonstrators.
The NLC’s threat of a nationwide strike echoes its previous warning in June 2024, when it suspended a planned strike for 30 days after reaching an agreement with the government on economic policies and minimum wage. However, the current protests suggest that the government has failed to adequately address the concerns of workers and citizens.
