Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday called for an end to protests over the high cost of living in Africa’s most populous country and an end to “bloodshed” after at least 13 protesters were killed by security forces, according to Amnesty International.
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Of the thousands of people demonstrated Thursday and Friday against the ” bad governance ” and the rising cost of living in Nigeria which is going through a serious economic crisis, following reforms put in place by President Tinubu, who came to power in May 2023. Food inflation exceeds 40% and the price of gasoline has tripled.
” I heard you clearly. I understand the pain and frustration that motivates these protests. “, the head of state said in a televised speech, his first public address since the protests began last week. He urged the demonstrators to ” suspend any further protests and create space for dialogue “. ” I assure you that our government is committed to listening and responding to the concerns of our fellow citizens. “, he added.
” But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. ” he warned, before adding: ” We must put an end to the bloodshed, violence and destruction. »
” Tactics aimed at killing »
If Amnesty International The police say at least 13 protesters were killed by the police, while the police say seven people died and deny any responsibility.
” Our evidence at this stage shows that where there have been deaths, members of the security forces have deliberately used tactics aimed at killing while they were dealing with gatherings of people denouncing hunger and extreme poverty. “, Amnesty wrote in a statement published on X.
The protest organizers, a loose coalition of civil society groups, have vowed to continue their actions in the coming days despite warnings from authorities.
” We were unceremoniously dispersed, but I think that only strengthened our resolve. “We are doing this,” said Damilare Adenola, 29, an activist and leader of the human rights group Take It Back, in Abuja. Hunger is the main motivation for this protest, which is why we are calling for an end to bad governance ” he added.
700 arrests
Nearly 700 people were arrested during the first two days of mobilization, according to the police, who accuse them in particular of ” armed robbery, arson » and destruction of property.
In his speech, Bola Ahmed Tinubu stressed that “ The law enforcement agencies should continue to maintain peace, law and order in our country in accordance with the human rights conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory. »
Participants in the protests, dubbed #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria, are calling on the president to roll back reforms, such as the suspension of the fuel subsidy, and to ” end suffering and hunger “But in his speech, the Nigerian president defended his record and assured that the measures would benefit young people and the economy in general.
Ahead of Thursday’s protests, government officials had urged people to give reforms time to bear fruit, listing proposed aid to ease economic hardship, including raising the minimum wage and delivering grain to states across the country.
The last major protest movement in Nigeria was in October 2020, and aimed at demanding the disbandment of a police unit accused of abuses. The brigade was disbanded, but at least 10 protesters were killed, according to Amnesty. The government and The army denied any responsibility.
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