AMNESTY International has reported that 13 individuals were killed on the first day of the nationwide protests that swept through various regions of the country, calling for an investigation into the incidents.
In a public statement released today, the humanitarian organization specified the states where these fatalities occurred.
It noted that six people lost their lives in Suleja, Niger State, with dozens suffering serious injuries. Additionally, the organization reported that four individuals were killed in Maiduguri and three in Kaduna.
It said, “The Nigerian authorities must investigate these incidents impartially and effectively and ensure that security personnel suspected of responsibility for the alleged deadly use of force are held to account through fair trial.
“Violent crackdown on peaceful protesters is unjustified and unacceptable. The Nigerian authorities’ fierce clampdown on peaceful protests yesterday and the harmful rhetoric by government officials ahead of the protests appear to be part of a wider plan to find justification for depriving people of the right to peaceful protest.
“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.
“Particularly in Abuja, the police have routinely misused tear gas against largely peaceful protesters.
“The relentless repression of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly speaks to the Nigerian authorities’ growing hostility to dissent.
“Nigerian security agencies’ unlawful attitude of using firearms as tactical tools for the management of protests must end.
‘The Nigerian government must also pay more attention to taking concrete steps to address the impact of on economic, social, and cultural rights, including people’s rights to health and education.
“Authorities must also end the rampant violations of the people’s rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”
