Nigeria Imposes 24-Hour Curfews Amid Ongoing Protests
Millions of residents in northern Nigeria are under 24-hour curfews amid nationwide protests against the high cost of living. Authorities in Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, and Katsina have instructed locals to stay home on Friday to prevent participation in the protests. The government claims that "hoodlums" have hijacked the demonstrations, leading to looting and vandalism.
A strong security presence is evident nationwide as nine more "days of rage" are scheduled by the protest organizers. On the first day, Kano saw the largest demonstrations. Police used live bullets, tear gas, and hot water to disperse the crowds, resulting in three fatalities and multiple injuries. Looters targeted a warehouse near the governor's residence, leading to 269 arrests and the recovery of stolen goods.
Amnesty International reported that 13 protesters were killed by security forces across Nigeria on the first day. In Borno State, an explosion during a protest killed four people and injured 34. This led to a curfew in the state capital, Maiduguri. The explosion in the rural community of Kawori, suspected to be the work of Boko Haram, killed 16 people at a teashop.
Despite curfews, protests continued in major cities. In Abuja, police used tear gas to prevent demonstrators from reaching the city center. In Lagos, some banks and shops reopened, but the internet remained unstable. Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun put police on "red alert" to respond swiftly to any threats.
The protests, organized on social media with the hashtag #EndBadGovernance, were inspired by recent successful protests in Kenya. Demonstrators, particularly in the south, chanted slogans like "We are hungry," protesting President Bola Tinubu’s removal of a fuel subsidy, which has led to increased prices for fuel and other goods. They also demand wide-ranging reforms to the electoral system and judiciary.
Kano’s governor's spokesperson described the protests as largely peaceful but justified the curfew due to "rampant looting, destruction of property, and violence" by "thugs." Yobe State imposed curfews in Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru due to vandalism and looting by "hoodlums." Katsina's government reported that "miscreants" had "hijacked the protests."
