Lagos — Amnesty International has condemned the killing of 13 protesters allegedly by security personnel across Nigeria, calling the incident “unjustified and unacceptable.” The condemnation came in a statement released on Friday by the Country Director, Isa Sanusi.
Sanusi urged Nigerian authorities to conduct an impartial and effective investigation into the killings, which occurred in Suleja, Niger State (where six people were killed and dozens wounded), Maiduguri (where four people were killed), and Kaduna (where three people were killed). He emphasized the need for accountability, stating that security personnel suspected of using deadly force should face fair trials.
“Our findings so far show that security personnel at the locations where lives were lost deliberately used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty,” Sanusi said. “The Nigerian authorities must investigate these incidents impartially and effectively.”
Amnesty International also criticized the Nigerian government’s “growing hostility to dissent” and its “relentless repression of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.” The organization called for immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arrested for participating in the protests and urged the government to address the impact of recent reforms on economic, social, and cultural rights, including health and education.
Responding to the allegations, the Niger State Police Command, in a report issued on Thursday by Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun, acknowledged the unrest in Tafa Local Government Council Secretariat. The report detailed how miscreants looted, vandalized, and partially set the building on fire, with vehicles also damaged and burned.
Abiodun stated that while there was no loss of life, some miscreants were injured during the chaos and were treated at nearby medical facilities. The police used minimal force to disperse the protesters and made arrests to restore order.