By Lucy Adautin
A rights group has reported that at least 13 protesters were killed during mass demonstrations against Nigeria’s economic crisis, which escalated into violence in several states.
Authorities confirmed four deaths from a bomb explosion and hundreds of arrests, as the protests led to curfews in multiple states.
Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, stated in an interview that the organization independently verified the deaths through witnesses, victims’ families, and lawyers.
Nigerian police reported over 300 arrests and imposed curfews in the northern states of Kano and Katsina following the looting of government and public properties. One police officer was killed and several others injured.
The protests centered on food shortages and alleged poor governance. Despite being among Africa’s highest-paid public officials, Nigerian leaders are frequently accused of corruption, creating a stark contrast in a country with some of the world’s poorest and hungriest people, despite its status as a leading oil producer.
Protesters, carrying placards, bells, and Nigeria’s green-and-white flag, chanted songs while listing their demands. Among these was the reinstatement of gas and electricity subsidies, whose removal as part of the government’s economic reforms has driven up the prices of nearly everything.
