The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) reports that just seven persons perished during the #EndBadGovernance demonstration.
Amnesty International stated on Friday that it had received reports of 13 persons killed by security forces as of Thursday night, including six in Suleja, Niger, four in Maiduguri, Borno, and three in Kaduna.
According to the organisation’s findings, security officers in the three states used deliberate killing tactics when dealing with protests against hunger and dire poverty.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer (PPRO), denied the report by the human rights organisation.
Adejobi stated that four people were killed in Borno. At the same time, 34 were critically injured in a terrorist attack carried out by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP members who infiltrated a throng of demonstrators and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED).
He claimed that an unlicensed Honda Prelude automobile collided with the protesters, killing two citizens.
The statement reads:
“The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Although the vehicle was vandalised after the incident, it has been recovered and is currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to trace the driver and bring him to justice.”
“There was another incident reported in Yauri, in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State where a group of individuals mobilised to loot a shop. In the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters.
“The Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State is currently investigating the incident. This brings the total number of deaths recorded during the protests to seven (7).
“It is important to state that there were no other recorded fatalities during the protests apart from those mentioned above.
“However, incidences of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, and destructions of both public and private property were recorded during the protest.
“The Nigeria Police personnel deployed to manage the protests have acted professionally, refraining from using lethal weapons. In instances where protesters became riotous, the police employed teargas to disperse them.
“Even when our officers on lawful duty were attacked and injured, the police effected arrests using only teargas, demonstrating utmost restraint.
“To combat the trend of crimes and criminality, the police have arrested a total of six hundred and eighty-one (681) individuals who committed various criminal offences such as armed robbery, arson, mischief, and destructions of both public and private property.
“Dangerous weapons, including two (2) AK-47 rifles and assorted live ammunition, were recovered from the so-called protesters.”
Adejobi further stated that neither the demonstration organisers nor the protestors were detained and that those in police custody are being investigated for “clear connections to criminal activities”.