SBM Intelligence said , at least 16 people were killed in the #EndBadGovernance protest, which took place across Nigeria on Thursday.
The fatalities occurred in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa. Specifically, one person was shot dead in both Abuja and Kano, two were killed in Jigawa, six were reportedly shot by security forces in Niger, four in Borno, and three in Kaduna.
Additionally, a man stripped naked in Lagos to protest against the hardships. The rally, which began peacefully, turned violent in some cities, resulting in clashes between police and protesters.
In response, businesses, banks, shopping plazas, and some markets remained closed out of fear that the protests might 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 route.
“I was waiting for a bus on the motorway when a large group of protesters blocked the highway and harassed motorists.” However, when the situation turned more aggressive, the cops opened fire, killing the young man. “Everybody took off after seeing the man fall,” she explained.
At Eagles Square, near the Presidential Villa in the Three Arms Zone, police encountered a group of protesters. The protesters gathered, singing the old national anthem “Arise, O Compatriots” and demanding an end to poor governance in the country.
In response, security forces deployed teargas to disperse the crowd, but the protesters defiantly continued their demonstration. Shortly thereafter, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, arrived and attempted to speak to the protesters. However, he was met with chants of “hunger dey,” indicating the crowd’s dissatisfaction.
Olawande tried to calm the situation, stating that he was not there to stop the protest but to encourage civility, saying, “I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to ask you not to protest; it is your right. I’ve participated in over 100-500 protests.”
Despite his efforts, the situation escalated after his departure. Security operatives used more teargas and pepper spray, eventually dispersing the protesters around 10:30 am after firing warning non-lethal shots into the ground. Amidst the chaos, a brave female protester confronted the police, holding her baby and challenging them to shoot. She later told journalists that she was protesting because bandits had killed her husband in Katsina.