Amnesty International, a global human rights organization has released a report on Thursday titled “Bloody August: Nigerian Government’s Violent Crackdown on #Endbadgovernance Protests,” which details excessive force used by the Nigeria Police Force against peaceful protesters during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance demonstrations held between August 1-10, 2024.
According to the report, at least 24 protesters were killed in Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Niger states, and over 1,200 people, including minors, were detained.
The report revealed numerous instances of police brutality, including shooting live ammunition at close range, targeting the head or torso of protesters, and indiscriminate use of tear gas, which resulted in injuries, suffocation and death. Amnesty International’s Director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, condemned the violent crackdown, emphasizing that peaceful protests over government policies have become a matter of life and death in the country.
The report sheds light on the Nigerian government’s attempts to cover up the atrocities, suggesting that the death toll could be even higher than reported.
On the case of brutal attacks on EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters, the report states, “In all cases, the victims were shot by the police, firing live ammunition at close range often at the head or torso, suggesting that officers were shooting to kill. Two survivors suffered injuries after being shot by police in the arm and legs, others were suffocated by the indiscriminate use of tear gas.
“People in Nigeria witnessed unbelievable lawlessness as security personnel fired live ammunition at protesters.
“The death toll could be higher than 24 because of the authorities’ apparent desperate efforts to cover up the atrocities. Peaceful protest over government policies is now a matter of life and death in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian authorities must hold the police and other security agencies to account for unleashing deadly force on people who did not constitute an imminent threat to lives.
“It is shocking that police have engaged in flagrant denials of wrongdoing despite public evidence to the contrary, and this speaks to their utter disregard for the sanctity of human lives.
“President Bola Tinubu and his government must conduct prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigations into the allegations of human rights violations during the #Endbadgovernance protests, and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are identified and brought to justice in fair trials. Nigerian authorities must ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims and their families.”
The report also revealed the geographical extent of police violence during the #EndBadGovernance protests. In Kano State, 12 protesters were killed in Rijiyar Lemo and Kofar Nasarawa, while three lost their lives in Hadejia, Jigawa State. Additionally, one person was killed in Kofar Sauri, Katsina state, and a minor was shot dead by a Nigerian soldier in Zaria, Kaduna state. In Maiduguri, three protesters were killed at A.A. Kime Filling Station at Bolori Junction, and in Niger state, three people lost their lives along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
The report further disclosed that between August 12-17, Amnesty International conducted on-the-ground research in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states to investigate these alarming incidents.
“Evidence gathered includes videos and photographs, as well as accounts from eyewitnesses, medical workers and victims’ relatives, friends, and acquaintances on the ground.
“Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International in Kano, Dutse, Katsina, and Minna that the protests were largely peaceful when they began in the morning of 1 August, but the mood abruptly changed when police attacked the protesters by firing live ammunition and tear gas.
“The excessive use of force by the police against protesters contravenes international human rights standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
“Those who expressed support for the protests on social media were attacked and many were arbitrarily arrested either by the police or the Department of State Services (DSS),” the organization said.
Amnesty International said that one Khalid Aminu was arrested by the DSS operatives in Kaduna during the protest.
Aminu was quoted as saying, “I was tortured for over 60 days and the torture started right from the point of arrest. The DSS operatives beat me and other protesters with sticks and iron cables. They poured water on me. I am yet to fully recover from these atrocities.”
Also, Michael Adaramoye, popularly known as Lenin, was detained for two months for being part of the protest in Abuja.
Meanwhile, despite overwhelming evidence, including eyewitness accounts, videos, medical records, testimonies of the parents of victims and survivors, and photographs, the Nigeria police have consistently denied involvement in the killings, dismissing them as “fake news” or attributing them to “unknown gunmen.”
The Amnesty International Nigeria Director, Sanusi said, “The Nigeria Police Force’s denial of the killings of protesters is a disturbing trend that undermines trust, perpetuates impunity, and exacerbates the cycle of violence. It also adds to the agony of the families whose loved ones were killed.”
Sanusi added, “The brutal crackdown on the #Endbadgovernance protests is a clear manifestation of Nigerian authorities’ failure to respect and ensure the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“From restricting protesters to certain places in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt to attacks on journalists, the Nigerian police once again shows that nothing has changed about its disregard for human rights and the rule of law.”
Meanwhile, the international human rights standards made it clear that in the dispersal of assemblies that are unlawful but non-violent, law enforcement officials shall avoid the use of force or, where that is not practicable, shall restrict such force to the minimum extent necessary.
The international human rights standards also stated that in the dispersal of violent assemblies, law enforcement officials may use firearms only when less dangerous means are not practicable and only to the minimum extent necessary.
It stressed that intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.
Sanusi said, “The Nigerian authorities must end this cycle of impunity and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims and survivors. Deadly crackdowns on peaceful protests must end in compliance with Nigeria’s national and international legal obligations. Authorities must immediately release those detained simply for participating in the #Endbadgovernance protests.”
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