By: Asuquo Cletus Felix
The Nigeria Police Force has faulted reports by Amnesty International which claimed that 13 person’s lost their lives due to the nationwide protest which began on 1st August 2024.
Amnesty International had further alleged that security personnel’s deliberately employed tactics designed to kill while managing gatherings and used firearms as a tactical tool for protest management.
In a press statement issued on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi it disclosed that from the first two (2) days of the nationwide protests, in Borno State, four (4) individuals lost their lives and thirty-four (34) were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Adejobi noted that in another incident reported in Yauri, in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, a group of individuals mobilized to loot a shop. In the process, a local vigilante man shot and killed one of the looters.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State is currently investigating the incident.
“The Nigeria Police Force finds it necessary to refute a recent report publicized by Amnesty International, which claims that thirteen (13) individuals have lost their lives due to the protests in Nigeria that began on 1st August 2024.
“Amnesty International further alleges that security personnel deliberately employed tactics designed to kill while managing gatherings and used firearms as a tactical tool for protest management.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to provide an accurate account of incidents from the first two (2) days of the nationwide protests.
‘In Borno State, four (4) individuals lost their lives and thirty-four (34) were severely injured in a terrorist attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP elements who infiltrated the crowd of protesters and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
“Additionally, an incident occurred involving an unregistered Honda Prelude car that ran into the protesters, resulting in the deaths of two (2) civilians.
” The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Although the vehicle was vandalized 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 mobilized 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).”
He further stated that there were incidents of armed robbery, arson, mischief, looting of public institutions and private businesses, destruction of both public and private property, recorded during the protest.
The Force spokesman noted that the Police personnel deployed to manage the protests had acted professionally, refraining from using lethal weapons.
