Amnesty International reported that at least 24 protesters were killed and over 1,200 others detained by the Nigeria Police during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place between August 1 and 10.
The organization’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, revealed these figures during a press conference in Kano State on Thursday.
Sanusi presented a documented report on the protests, which highlighted that the victims included 20 young people, an older individual, and two children.
“The #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, held across several states, resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people in Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Niger states,” Sanusi stated.
“In all instances, the victims were shot by the police with live ammunition at close range, often targeting the head or torso, suggesting the officers were aiming to kill,” Sanusi continued.
Sanusi also suggested that the actual death toll could be higher than 24 due to what he described as a government effort to cover up the killings.
“Peaceful protests over government policies have now become a matter of life and death in Nigeria,” he added.
The report, titled “Bloody August: Nigerian Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protest,” documented the severe response to demonstrations against economic hardships and government policies.
Sanusi called on the Nigerian authorities to hold the police and security agencies accountable for using excessive force on protesters who posed no threat.
“President Bola Tinubu and his government must ensure prompt, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations into these human rights violations and bring those responsible to justice,” he emphasized.
Amnesty International conducted field research from August 12 to 17 in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states, gathering evidence such as videos, photographs, and testimonies from eyewitnesses, medical workers, and the victims’ families and friends.
