The Nigerian Army has confirmed that one of its personnel killed a teenager in Zaria, Kaduna State, during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, contradicting the police’s earlier denial of using live ammunition on protesters.
The protests, which began peacefully, turned violent in various parts of the country, resulting in multiple reported incidents of killings by security operatives. Despite video evidence of extrajudicial killings, the police had denied involvement in the shootings.
However, the Nigerian Army’s admission has raised questions about the police’s handling of the protests. The police had claimed that no live ammunition was used, despite reports of killings in several states, including Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, and Katsina.
Amnesty International has condemned the use of lethal force against protesters, stating that security personnel used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has also warned the police and other security forces to stop the “massacre” of protesters, questioning the professionalism of the police high command.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka writing, “Live bullets as state response to civic protest – that becomes the core issue.”
