- The organisation, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the police killed 10 protesters in Kano
Nigerians protesting widespread economic hardship in Kano State were at the receiving end of brutal and violent crackdown by the police, Amnesty International has said.
The human rights organisation alleged that Nigerian police recklessly and arbitrarily fired live rounds at close range and killed protesters including children in the ongoing nationwide hunger protest.
The organisation, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the police killed 10 protesters in the north-west state.
The organisation urged the Nigerian authorities to effectively and impartially probe the killing of at least 10 peaceful hunger protesters by the police at some locations in Kano — including Kurna and Kofar Nasarawa.
“Some of those killed were children chanting “peace,” the human rights organisation said.
Despite multiple videos of police opening opening fire on fleeing protesters, the Inspector- General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, claimed that the police remained civil in their operations
Though President Bola Tinubu condoled families of those killed during the protests, he didn’t speak on the nefarious actions of the police in enforcing peace during the demonstrations.
“I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction,” Mr Tinubu said.
The number of citizens killed by the police during the nationwide hunger protest had risen to 23 according to Amnesty International which claimed that 13 persons were killed on the first day of the protest on August 1. But the police faulted the claim, stating that 681 criminals were arrested for various crimes between Thursday and Friday.
Security operatives on Saturday, the third day of nationwide protests, shot at cars conveying reporters causing panic around the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
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