At least 13 people were killed and hundreds arrested during the first day of widespread protests against Nigeria’s economic crisis, according to rights groups. The nationwide protests, which erupted in response to the deteriorating economic conditions, have triggered curfews in several states, including Kano, Yobe, Nasarawa, Katsina, and Borno.
The protests turned violent in many areas, with Amnesty International reporting that at least 13 protesters were killed. Authorities confirmed four deaths due to a bomb explosion and the arrest of hundreds of protesters. The violence has led to the imposition of curfews, ranging from 12 to 24 hours, in volatile local government areas across the affected states.
In Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest state, a curfew was imposed after protests against the high cost of living were reportedly “hijacked by thugs,” leading to widespread looting and property destruction. The governor’s office claimed that the curfew was necessary to restore order and prevent further chaos.
Amid the turmoil, Archbishop Professor Princewill Ariwodor, National Chairman of the Abia State Elders Consultative Forum, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign if he cannot address the country’s economic woes.
“Tinubu should resign if he is unable to fix the economy. The Nigerian economy was far better before he took over. Buhari handed him a stronger economy, which he has now destroyed,” Ariwodor stated.
He criticized Tinubu for assuming the presidency without having effective solutions to the country’s challenges and cautioned against efforts to suppress peaceful protests, calling such actions an attack on democracy.
The national police chief, Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun, denied claims that officers had attacked peaceful protesters. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Egbetokun said he had “placed all units on red alert” to respond to “further threats to public safety and order.”
The Nigerian Army (NA) also addressed a viral video circulating on social media, which insinuated that troops participated in looting during the protests. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, clarified that soldiers of the 3 Brigade NA responded to a distress call regarding a hoodlums’ attack on Barakat Stores in Kano. The troops intercepted some of the looters and recovered stolen items. However, another distress call about a planned attack on the Kano State Government House diverted their attention. The recovered items were eventually returned to the store, and the store’s management acknowledged and appreciated the troops’ efforts.
The protests have also drawn reactions from prominent figures. Nigerian music sensation Burna Boy revealed his emotional struggle with activism, citing his experiences during the EndSARS protests in 2020. In a candid post, he shared how the events left him emotionally drained and hesitant to engage in similar actions again.
His admission sparked mixed reactions from fans, with some empathizing with his position and others expressing disappointment.
Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide to Goodluck Jonathan, criticized the inciters of the protests for not managing the situation.
“Seventeen people died. Businesses looted. Hospitals and pharmacies were destroyed. Government offices were burnt. Markets shut down. Public utilities were vandalized. All in one day,” Omokri wrote on his Facebook page.
He blamed political figures like Sowore, Peter Obi, and Simon Ekpa for inciting the protests without being present to control them.
The current unrest poses a significant challenge to the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment. The security situation across Africa’s most populous nation remains volatile with police and army officers on high alert. Reporting by Ollus Ndomu & Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
