From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
AMNESTY International has said no fewer than 24 protesters were killed while 1,200 others, including minors, were detained by the police during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
In its report titled, ‘Bloody August: Nigerian government’s violent crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protests,’ released yesterday, the organisation said the Nigerian authorities perpetrated acts of torture and other ill-treatments against the protesters.
Speaking at the presentation of the report on the protest, Country Director, Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, explained that the killings and arrests specifically took place in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger, Borno and Kaduna states.
According to him, the police deployed excessive force to quash the protests. “In all cases, the victims were shot at as the police red live bullets at a close range, targeting their head or torso; a development suggesting that the officers were shooting to kill. People in Nigeria witnessed unbelievable lawlessness as security personnel fired live ammunition 522 at protesters.”
It claimed that the crackdown on the protesters, “shows the Nigerian authorities’ failure to respect and facilitate the right to freedom of expression.”
It called on the Federal Government to reverse the recurrent cycle of impunity and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice in fair trial.
“Amnesty International has found that Nigerian authorities killed at least 24 protesters and arrested 1,200 protesters during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests between August 1 and10.
“The organisation also found that several protesters have been arraigned nationwide and put through trials based on bogus charges in a clear manifestation of the government’s unrelenting efforts to punish protesters and demonise protests.”
Speaking during the presentation of the report in Kano, Sanusi said two children and 20 young persons were among those killed during the protest.
He explained that Nigerians witnessed a high level of lawlessness with police ring live ammunition at protesters within a close range.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate the human rights allegation, and ensure effective remedies for the victims and their families.
“Two survivors suffered injuries after being shot by police in the arm and legs, others were suffocated by the indiscriminate use of teargas.
“The death toll could be higher than 24 because of the authorities’ apparent desperate efforts to cover up the atrocities. Peaceful protest over the government’s policies is now a matter of life and death in Nigeria.
“President Tinubu and his government must conduct prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent
and effective investigations into the allegations of human rights violations during the #EndBadGovernance pro- tests, and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are identi ed and brought to justice in fair trials.”