Amnesty International has condemned the Nigerian government’s violent crackdown on the #EndBadGovernance protests, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people and the detention of over 1,200 others. The organization’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, disclosed this information while addressing a news conference in Kano State on Thursday.
Sanusi presented a documented report on the protests, which revealed that those killed included 20 young people, an older person, and two children. “The #EndBadGovernance demonstrations between August 1 and 10, killed at least 24 people in the states of Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Niger,” he said.
The report, titled “Bloody August: Nigerian Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protest,” documented the crackdown on peaceful protests against increasing economic hardship and bad governance. Sanusi emphasized that the victims were shot by the police, who fired live ammunition at close range, often at the head or torso, suggesting that officers were shooting to kill.
“The death toll could be higher than 24 because of the authorities’ apparent desperate efforts to cover up the atrocities,” Sanusi said. “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.
Sanusi called on President Bola Tinubu and his government to conduct prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigations into the allegations of human rights violations during the #EndBadGovernance protests. “Those suspected to be responsible must be identified and brought to justice in fair trials,” he added.
Amnesty International carried out field research in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states between August 12 and 17, 2024. The organization gathered evidence, including videos and photographs, as well as accounts from eyewitnesses, medical workers, and victims’ relatives, friends, and acquaintances on the ground.
The Nigerian government’s response to the protests has been widely criticized by human rights organizations and activists. The government’s use of deadly force against peaceful protesters is a clear violation of international human rights law.
Sanusi emphasized that the Nigerian authorities must respect the right to peaceful protest and ensure that those responsible for the killings and detentions are held accountable. “The government must stop using security personnel to deprive people of the right to peaceful protest and pay attention to the real grievances that triggered the protests,” he said.
The #EndBadGovernance protests were sparked by widespread discontent with the Nigerian government’s handling of the economy and its response to the country’s numerous challenges. The protests were largely peaceful, but the government’s response was marked by violence and repression.
