Amnesty International has raised alarm over the continued denial of justice for victims of police brutality during the #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and 10, 2024, across several northern states in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Thursday to mark one year since the nationwide demonstrations against hardship and poor governance, the rights group accused Nigerian authorities of shielding security operatives responsible for unlawful killings, torture, and arbitrary arrests.
Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, disclosed that at least 24 peaceful protesters were shot dead by police in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Niger, and Kaduna states.
“A year on, not a single officer has been held accountable. This blatant lack of justice only reinforces impunity,” he said.
The organisation alleged that victims were targeted with live ammunition at close range, often shot in the head or torso, and many others suffered tear gas inhalation or severe torture while in detention.
It cited the case of minors tried before the Federal High Court in Abuja who collapsed due to starvation while in custody. It also condemned what it described as “sham trials” based on “bogus charges” used to convict protesters in various states.
In Maiduguri, Borno State, seven youths — some as young as 14 — were convicted on charges of forming a protest group on WhatsApp and allegedly planning to take up arms against the government.
While the children received punishments such as caning and community service, the adults were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
Similar trials are ongoing in Abuja, where protesters are being prosecuted for allegedly inciting mutiny, calling for a military takeover, and chanting “Tinubu must go.”
Sanusi noted that these actions are part of a broader trend of suppressing dissent and criminalising peaceful assembly. “Failing to hold police accountable for these horrific abuses shows the Nigerian government’s utter disregard for human rights,” he said.
Amnesty called on the government to immediately drop all charges against peaceful protesters and initiate credible investigations into the killings and torture cases.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, driven largely by young Nigerians, were triggered by rising inflation, unemployment, and perceived government insensitivity, sparking nationwide unrest and a heavy-handed crackdown by security forces.
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