At least 13 protesters were killed during mass demonstrations in Nigeria against the country’s economic crisis, which escalated into violence in several states, a human rights group reported on Friday. Authorities confirmed four additional deaths caused by a bomb and the arrest of hundreds of individuals, leading to the imposition of curfews in several states.
Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, stated in an interview that the organization independently verified the fatalities reported by witnesses, victims’ families, and lawyers.
Nigerian police reported that over 300 protesters were arrested, and curfews were imposed in the northern states of Kano and Katsina following the looting of government and public properties. Additionally, one police officer was killed and several others injured.
The protests were primarily driven by food shortages and accusations of poor governance. Despite being one of Africa’s top oil producers, Nigeria struggles with severe poverty and hunger, while its public officials are among the highest-paid on the continent, often facing allegations of corruption.
Protesters, carrying placards, bells, and the green-and-white Nigerian flag, chanted songs and listed their demands. Among these demands was the reinstatement of gas and electricity subsidies, whose removal as part of government reforms aimed at economic growth has significantly increased the cost of living.
