Amnesty Int’l alleges police killed 24, detained 1,200 in Nigeria’s #EndBadGovernance protest

The human rights watchdog, Amnesty International has accused the Nigeria Police Force of using “excessive force” against #EndBadGovernance protesters in the country.

The police had arraigned about 100 persons in court for participating in the August protests against economic hardship in the country.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, the group alleged that police killed 24 people and detained 1,200 minors across states in the North.

The statement read: “Nigerian police used excessive force against protesters during the nationwide #Endbadgovernance demonstrations between 1-10 August, killing at least 24 people in the states of Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Niger.

“Those killed included 20 young people, an older person, and two children.

“In all cases the victims were shot by the police, firing live ammunition at close range often at the head or torso, suggesting that officers were shooting to kill. Two survivors suffered injuries after being shot by police in the arm and legs, others were suffocated by the indiscriminate use of tear gas.

“People in Nigeria witnessed unbelievable lawlessness as security personnel fired live ammunition at peaceful protests. The death toll could be higher than 24 because of the authorities’ desperate efforts to cover up the atrocities. Peaceful protest over government policies is now a matter of life and death in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian authorities must hold the police and other security agencies to account for unleashing deadly force on people who did not constitute an imminent threat to lives.

“It is shocking that police have engaged in flagrant denials of wrongdoing despite public evidence to the contrary, and this speaks to their utter disregard for the sanctity of human lives. President Bola Tinubu must constitute an independent and impartial investigation of human rights violations during the #Endbadgovernance protests.”

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