At least 17 people were feared killed in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa during the #Endbadgovernance protest, which was held across the country on Thursday.
One person was reportedly shot dead in Abuja and Kano, two killed in Jigawa, six others were reportedly gunned down by security forces in Niger, while four died in Borno and three in Kaduna.
The demonstrations started peacefully but turned violent in certain places, resulting in violent confrontations between police and protesters.
Businesses, banks, retail malls, and several markets remained closed due to fears that the protests may escalate into a crisis.
In Abuja, one person was killed during the demonstration on the Kubwa motorway.
An eyewitness, identified as Ekaete, said the guy, whose name could not be confirmed, was shot when the demonstrators turned rowdy and blocked the road.
‘’I was waiting for a bus on the motorway when the protesters in their numbers blocked the highway and harassed motorists. But as they became violent, the police fired live shots, killing the young man. Everybody took off on seeing the man fall,’’ she narrated.
The police also encountered demonstrators at Eagles Square, Three Arms Zone, which is just a few metres from the Presidential Villa.
Protesters gathered in Eagles Square, chanting the traditional “Arise, O Compatriots” national anthem and demanding an end to ill governance in the country.
In response, security personnel fired a few tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters, who only shouted back in defiance.
Shortly after, Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of State for Youth Development, arrived at the scene and attempted to address the protesters, who shouted him down with chants of “hunger dey.”
However, he called for calm, stating that he wasn’t attempting to shut down the demonstration but to encourage them to be law abiding.
“I’m not here to fight you; I’m not here to ask you not to protest; it is your right. Like I said, I’ve been to over 100-500 protests,’’ Olawande stated.
But the situation quickly escalated upon the minister’s exit as the operatives fired more toxic gas and pepper spray, dislodging the protesters at about 10:30am after first firing warning non-lethal shots at the ground.
A courageous female protester confronted the police officers, holding up her baby and daring them to shoot.
She told reporters that she showed up at the protest with her baby after bandits killed her husband in Katsina.
“I came to protest the hardship in Nigeria, and the police are shooting teargas at us. Do they also want to kill my baby? People cannot eat. Things are hard,” the protester, who did not disclose her name, said.
The police operatives in a helicopter also fired teargas at a group of protesters occupying the city gate.
Some demonstrators had earlier gathered at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium as early as 6am, in compliance with a court order earlier obtained by the FCT administration on Wednesday, restricting them to the venue.
