The recent killing of peaceful protesters by the Nigerian Police Force during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests is strongly condemned by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).
CITAD is deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives and the use of force against citizens exercising their fundamental and democratic rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended and other international agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The protests, which began on 1st August, 2024, took place across various states, including Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Rivers, Plateau, Niger, and started as peaceful demonstrations against economic hardship, anti-masses government policies, and poor governance. Regrettably, these peaceful gatherings have been met with violence and repression by security forces. Reports as of today, 4th August, 2024, indicate that at least six protesters were shot dead in Niger, seven in Kano, four in Borno, and two in Kaduna States with additional fatalities and injuries occurring in other regions.
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As a Civil Society Organization (CSO) working to improve good governance and defend the human rights of citizens, CITAD unequivocally condemns the actions of the Nigerian Police Force and its sister agencies and calls for an immediate halt to the use of force against unarmed protesters. The right to peaceful assembly and expression is enshrined in both Nigerian and international law, and these rights must be respected and protected by all.
We urge the security agencies to stop the use of force against the peaceful protesters and call on the Nigerian government to take immediate actions to conduct investigations into the incidents and hold those responsible accountable.
In this critical moment, it is crucial for the government to understand that using force will only escalate the situation. Instead, the government should respond in concrete terms to the key demands of the citizens. However, we note with dismay how the president’s speech this morning f
