- Amnesty criticizes killing of protesters in Nigeria
In West African Nigeria, protests continue despite multiple deaths and curfews. Since Thursday, particularly young people have taken to the streets to protest against the economic policies in Africa's most populous state.
Human rights organization Amnesty International reports that the police have killed 13 peaceful protesters, using lethal tactics and live ammunition. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, described it as a riot and looting, stating that there were unprovoked attacks on security forces, with one police officer killed.
Protests are expected to continue for ten days under the hashtag "#EndBadGovernance" (end bad governance).
Civil society groups called for the protests to express their resistance against the economic measures of President Bola Tinubu, who, soon after taking office in May 2023, devalued the national currency and removed subsidies for fuel.
Oil-rich Nigeria struggles with widespread corruption, poverty, and heavy violence from bandits and terrorists. Meanwhile, entrepreneurship and pop culture are booming in the coastal state's metropolises, home to over 220 million people, more than half of whom are under 17 years old. Many Nigerians aspire to leave the country to build their lives elsewhere. Youth-led protests in recent weeks have also caused unrest in Kenya and Uganda.
The demonstration against President Bola Tinubu's economic policies has been ongoing for several days, with young people leading the charge in Nigeria. The human rights organization Amnesty International has condemned the use of lethal force by the police during the demonstration, resulting in the deaths of 13 peaceful protesters.
