A report by the CLEEN Foundation has confirmed that six individuals lost their lives in Niger State during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest.
The report, unveiled in Minna on Thursday, also disclosed that a total of 23 fatalities occurred across the northern region of Nigeria.
Titled “Report on the Conduct of Law Enforcement Personnel during the August 2024 Nationwide Protest in Nigeria,” the document challenges the stance of former Niger State Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmaman, who was recently promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police.
Danmaman had previously maintained that no deaths were recorded in the state during the demonstrations.
During the report presentation, the foundation’s program manager, Chogozirim Okoro, highlighted that similar sessions had already taken place in Abuja and Kaduna, locations where fatalities were also reported.
Niger State was chosen for the final presentation due to its involvement in the tragic incidents.
“In Niger State, six persons were killed in Suleja and Tafa local government areas. Four persons were killed in Kano, three persons were killed in Kaduna and Borno respectively, two persons each in Katsina and Jigawa, and one person each in Bauchi, Gombe, and Kebbi states,” Okoro stated.
The report categorized the protests into two types: peaceful and violent. According to data from the CLEEN Foundation’s situation room, while the demonstrations remained largely peaceful in the southern part of the country, severe violence erupted in various northern states, leading to casualties and destruction of public property.
States such as Kano, Niger, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, and Borno were highlighted as hotspots of unrest.
CLEEN Foundation’s Executive Director, Mr. Peter Maduoma, emphasized the urgent need for widespread reform in Nigeria’s law enforcement system.
He advocated for enhanced accountability mechanisms, regular human rights training for officers, increased community engagement, improved misinformation management, and the gradual demilitarization of crowd control.
The foundation concluded that the 2024 protest underscored the necessity of revamping civil protest policing in Nigeria.
“Improving the policing of civil protest in Nigeria is crucial for protecting human rights, promoting peaceful expression, and fostering a healthy relationship between citizens and law enforcement agencies,” the report asserted.
