The Nigeria Police Force has attributed the killing of protesters during the ongoing demonstrations against hunger and corruption to terrorists and vigilantes, despite evidence suggesting involvement by security operatives.
In a statement, the police refuted a report by Amnesty International which claimed that thirteen individuals had died since the protests began on August 1, 2024.
Amnesty International reported that 13 people were killed on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which started on Thursday, and accused Nigerian security operatives of the deaths. The organization detailed that six people were killed in Suleja, Niger State, with many others injured; four people died in Maiduguri, Borno State; and three protesters were killed in Kaduna, describing the killings as “unjustified and unacceptable.”
In response to Amnesty International’s report, the police denied the allegations on Saturday, stating that terrorists and vigilantes were responsible for the killings in several locations.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to provide an accurate account of incidents from the first two days of the nationwide protests,” the police stated in a message on social media.
