Amnesty International on Thursday reported that 24 protesters were killed, and over 1,200 individuals, including minors, were detained by police during the #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria.
At the presentation of the report in Kano, Amnesty International Country Director Isa Sanusi highlighted that the fatalities occurred in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger, Borno, and Kaduna States. Sanusi accused the police of employing excessive force to suppress peaceful demonstrations.
“In all documented cases, victims were shot by police officers who fired live ammunition at close range, targeting their heads or torsos. This suggests an intent to kill rather than disperse the protesters,” Sanusi stated.
The report further detailed widespread lawlessness by security personnel. “People in Nigeria witnessed shocking levels of brutality as security forces fired live rounds at protesters,” Amnesty International noted.
The organization called on Nigerian authorities to hold the police and other security agencies accountable for their actions. “The use of deadly force against protesters who posed no imminent threat to lives is inexcusable,” they said, urging the government to investigate the human rights abuses transparently and thoroughly.
Amnesty International also expressed outrage at the repeated denials of wrongdoing by the police despite substantial public evidence. “These denials demonstrate a blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life,” the report added.
The organization demanded justice for the victims and urged authorities to provide effective remedies for those affected. They emphasized the importance of ensuring fair trials for individuals responsible for these violations.
“We appeal to the Nigerian administration to uphold justice and accountability while granting victims and their families access to necessary reparations,” Amnesty International concluded.
