A comprehensive situation report from the United Action Front of Civil Society has revealed a grave and troubling outcome of the #EndBadGovernance protests that swept across Nigeria. The report indicates that 21 people have died and 1, 154 have been arrested by security forces during these nationwide demonstrations, which began on Thursday. ..Read Full Article
The details of the report were disclosed in a press release by Olawale Okunniyi, Head of the Coordinating Secretariat for the United Action Front of Civil Society, on Friday. According to the statement, 175 individuals have been injured since the protests started. The statement provides a detailed overview of the situation across various states and highlights the scale of the unrest and the government’ s response.
The Report Breaks Down The Situation As Follows
Death Toll 21 individuals have lost their lives.
Injuries175 people have been injured.
Arrest1, 154 people have been detained.
Curfews DeclaredCurfews have been imposed in Yobe, Maiduguri, and Kano.
Police Brutality and Citizens’ Violence Instances of police brutality and citizen violence have been reported in Abuja, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Osun, Niger, Rivers, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Delta.
Peaceful Protests in Some states, including Plateau, Taraba, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, Abia, and Ogun, have seen peaceful protests.
The report strongly condemns the excessive force and violence inflicted upon unarmed protesters by security agents. It specifically criticizes the extrajudicial killings that have occurred, noting that these actions are contrary to the assurances provided by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, during a consultative meeting held earlier in the week.
The United Action Front of Civil Society expresses profound disapproval of the misuse of force and calls on the IGP to immediately address and rectify the conduct of the security personnel. The statement underscores the need for the Nigerian police force to enhance their professionalism and tactical capacity in handling civil protests and dealing with miscreants.
Additionally, the report addresses the issue of looting and vandalism that has taken place, particularly in the Northern states. It condemns the destruction of both private and public properties, which are estimated to be worth billions of Naira. The statement accuses unknown individuals, who are suspected to be hired provocateurs, of engaging in these criminal activities to undermine the peaceful nature of the protests and discredit the demonstrators. It urges these agents provocateurs to cease their disruptive actions or face consequences from the Nigerian public.
The report concludes with a call for the government to engage with the leaders of the nationwide protests in both Abuja and the various states to prevent further unrest. It outlines several key demands from the protesters, including:
Reduction of fuel prices to the pre- January 2023 level of ₦167 per liter and the elimination of fraudulent subsidy payments.
Reduction of electricity tariffs to the pre- December 2022 rates to stimulate economic growth.
Implementation of a free conversion program for vehicles to use affordable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Immediate presidential actions to address corruption, waste, and profligacy in government.
Reduction of the high cost of governance by cutting the salaries and allowances of government officials and political office holders by 50%.
Urgent constitutional reforms to enhance Nigeria’ s democratic governance structure.
The United Action Front of Civil Society believes that these measures are crucial for alleviating the growing tension in the country and preventing further protests and strikes. They argue that engaging with the protest leaders and addressing their demands is a necessary step for the government to avoid escalating the crisis.
The situation remains fluid, and it is imperative for both the government and civil society to work towards a peaceful resolution to address the grievances that have led to the widespread demonstrations.
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