Nigeria has been rocked by violent protests, resulting in multiple deaths and prompting the government to impose 24-hour curfews in affected areas. The demonstrations, dubbed the “day of rage,” drew thousands of protesters who took to the streets to express their anger over alleged bad governance and soaring inflation.
According to Amnesty International, at least 13 people have been killed in the cost-of-living protests, with security personnel accused of using lethal tactics to quell the gatherings. Local media reports vary, with some citing a death toll as high as 17, while the inspector general of police reported only three fatalities as of Friday morning.
The protests, which began on Thursday, saw clashes between police and demonstrators in several cities, including the capital Abuja and the northern city of Kano. Police fired live bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds, leading to widespread unrest.
In response to the violence, a 24-hour curfew has been imposed in Kano, the country’s second-largest state, after government and public properties were looted. The demonstrations are expected to continue, with organizers vowing to sustain action against the government for 10 days.
The protests, tagged “#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria,” come amid growing public anger at policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s government, including the removal of gas and electricity subsidies. The unrest in Nigeria is part of a broader wave of protests sweeping across Africa, with similar demonstrations taking place in Kenya and Uganda over living costs.