- Nigerian police accused of inciting violence as security operatives attack WARDC Staff in Abuja
- Number of protesters killed by security operatives rise
“Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado. As the lead-agency in internal security management, the police bear the burden of this massacre.” Joe Ajaero, NLC President
“Being a victim of protest violence today, I would say that 90% of the violence is caused in the uniform men. Although, am not in support of the strange flag that is been carried around, innocent people are usually the victim of violence in a situation like this,” Sheila Ibrahim, a staff member of WARDC told Law & Society after her car windscreen was broken yesterday by policemen while waiting on a queue in front of a filling station in Abuja.
Ms. Ibrahim in a short video narrated how she went to a police station in Mpape part of Abuja only to suffer more injustice.
Watch the videos below.
No fewer than 13 people, including women and children, have been confirmed dead in Kano State as unharmed protesters were attacked by security operatives on Saturday amid the ongoing nationwide protests.
At the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on the same day, security agents fired at protesters and journalists including TheCable and Premium Times journalists, damaging the vehicle of one of the reporters.
Questioning the professionalism of the police high command and its officers being superintend by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, said the surest path to a lasting solution is for the government to sit down with leaders of the protest and negotiate in good faith.
Ajaero maintained that threats by police and the military would not remedy the situation.
Demanding that the cops being these murders be fished out for appropriate disciplinary action as well as their commanders, the Labour leader said: “Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado. As the lead-agency in internal security management, the police bear the burden of this massacre.”
In a recent X post, Rights Activist Aisha Yesufu drew attention to a trending video of policemen in Bauchi assaulting wheelchair-bound protester. Condemning the action, Yesufu said:
“After assaulting peaceful Protester living with disability in Bauchi ?
“Dear Future These are @PoliceNG men assaulting a man in wheelchair who came out on the 1st of August 2024 to join citizens to protest against the hunger in the land.”
On Monday, a security operative was captured gunning down a protester in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of the same Bauchi.
The unidentified protester was pinned to the ground by some persons who tortured him. In a video sighted by Daily Trust, the young man was seen lying on the ground as two or three persons hit him repeatedly.
Shortly after, his killer who was standing beside a white Toyota Hilux van belonging to security operatives, moved closer.
After hitting him twice, the officer point his riffle directly at the victim and immediately pulled the trigger.
The crowd at the scene yelled as the policeman walked away without looking back.
Daily Trust factcheck team ran independent checks on the video and confirmed that it was not doctored.
Checks showed that the incident happened in front of Katagum Local Government secretariat, where policemen and some protesters using Russian flag clashed.
In a related development, the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) in a statement signed by its National Director of Media and Publicity, Justice Christopher, Esq.
The statement reads:
“ALDIN strongly denounces the alleged assault on Alhaji Hamza Waziri, a physically challenged protester, by police officers in Bauchi on August 1st, 2024. The widely circulated video on social media (but yet to be officially confirmed) depicts police officers brazenly abusing and manhandling Alhaji Waziri.
“ALDIN’s National President, Prince Ikem U. Uchegbulam Esq., described the content of the video as shocking and unacceptable heinous act. We have “established a 5-member Committee to investigate the incident and recommend appropriate action, including litigation if need be” he said.
“The Committee will work in collaboration with the Bauchi chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) to ensure a thorough and fair investigation.
“The Committee’s members include Mr. Rex Erameh as the chairman, Apolmida Haruna Tsammani, Sani Muhammed Moyi, Bolarinwo Lukman and Justice Christopher (as the Secretary)
“The Committee has been given one week to submit its report, after which ALDIN intends to take swift and decisive action to ensure justice is served and the rights of citizens, particularly persons with disabilities, are protected.”
In Lagos, Planning Committee of the #EndBadGovernance protests has called off Tuesday’s rally due to continued attacks on peaceful protesters by suspected hoodlums allegedly under the watchful eyes of the police.
Hassan Soweto, a Coordinator of the protest and member of the Youth Rights Campaign, confirmed the decision to ait.live on Tuesday morning.
He alleged that protesters were attacked by miscreants in the presence of Police at the Ojota venue after yesterday’s protest, forcing the cancellation of today’s rally.
Soweto stated, “We don’t want to lose anybody. We are concerned about the safety of innocent protesters. Yesterday, miscreants attacked peaceful protesters with the Police watching, which is unacceptable. We will use today to hold meetings on how to proceed with the protest.”
