Six persons were killed in Niger State during the August 2024 #EndBadGovenance protest, a report by CLEEN Foundation has revealed.
The body also disclosed that 23 persons were killed in the protest.
The foundation made this known on Thursday in Minna, the Niger State capital where it presented a report titled “Report on the conduct of Law Enforcement Personnel during the August 2024 Nationwide Protest in Nigeria”.
The report was contrary to a position held by the then Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmaman, who was recently promoted Aissistant Inspector-General of Police.
Danmaman had insisted that nobody was killed in Niger State during the protest.
However, the Programme Manager of the foundation, Chogozirim Okoro, who presented the report, also said a similar presentation had taken place in Abuja and Kaduna where the killings occurred, while the final presentation is taking place in Niger State, being one of the state’s that witnessed killings.
“In Niger State, six persons were killed in Suleja and Tafa Local Government Areas. Four persons were killed in Kano, three persons were killed in Kaduna and Borno respectively, two persons each in Katsina and Jigawa and one person each in Bauchi, Gombe and Kebbi States, respectively.
“The protests were categorised into two: Peaceful and violent protests. The CLEEN Foundation situation room data indicates that the nationwide protest was largely peaceful in the southern part of Nigeria, but recorded serious violence in the northern states, which led to loss of lives and destruction of public property. Some observers reported violence in different states such as Kano, Niger, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina Bauchi and Borno,” she stated.
The foundation’s Executive Director, Mr Peter Maduoma, said there is the need for comprehensive reforms in law enforcement agencies.
He also recommended strengthening accountability, monitoring and reporting mechanisms; regular human rights training; community engagement; misinformation management; continuous demilitarisation of crowd management and rights protection.
In its conclusion, the foundation noted that the 2024 protest underscored the urgent need for reforms in civil protest policing in Nigeria.
“Improving the policing of civil protest in Nigeria is crucial in protecting human rights, promoting peaceful expression and fostering a healthy relationship between citizens and law enforcement agencies,” the report added.
