Northern Nigeria Implements 24-Hour Curfews in Response to Nationwide Protests.
Northern Nigeria has imposed strict 24-hour curfews on millions of citizens in reaction to growing protests over the increasing expense of life. Residents of Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, and Katsina states have been instructed to stay home in an effort to quell the nationwide rallies.
The authorities have offered the activities of “hoodlums” as an excuse for the curfews, claiming that they had caused extensive looting and devastation by taking over the protests. Protest organizers have scheduled nine more “days of rage” and have noted a substantial security presence around the nation.
Outbreak of Violence in Kano
The northern city of Kano had the biggest crowds on the first day of the demonstrations. In order to disperse the masses, security personnel used tear gas, hot water, and live bullets. Sadly, three people were killed, and several others were injured. Two hundred and sixty-nine people were apprehended during a robbery in a warehouse close to the home of the governor of Kano. Among the stolen goods were 25-liter containers of groundnut oil.
According to Amnesty International, thirteen demonstrators were slain by security forces in Nigeria on the very first day.
Detonations and Extra Losses
Four protesters were killed in an explosion in Borno, a state in northeastern Nigeria, on Thursday night, adding to the bloodshed in the region. The incident was confirmed by Nigeria’s police chief, Kayode Egbetokun. Thirty-four others were critically hurt. Officials in Borno state responded to anti-government protests in Maiduguri by imposing a curfew, using the explosion as justification for the shutdown. Locals in Kawori have blamed Boko Haram for the 16 deaths that occurred the night before at a teashop blast, while the group has denied culpability.
Protests Persist Across the Country
Friday saw ongoing demonstrations in several of Nigeria’s largest cities, notwithstanding the curfews. Protesters in Abuja, the capital, were halted from approaching the city center and other regions by the use of tear gas by the police. Despite ongoing problems with internet connectivity, several companies in Lagos, the biggest metropolis in Nigeria, reopened after being temporarily closed due to the protests.
According to Inspector-General Egbetokun, the police are still on “red alert” and ready to deal with any dangers to public safety.
Networking with Social Media
Following the lead of recent successful protests in Kenya, which caused the government to drop plans to raise taxes, nationwide protests have been coordinated through social media with the hashtag #EndBadGovernance. Protesters in southern Nigeria sang “We are hungry” and other similar slogans during mostly nonviolent demonstrations in May 2023 in response to President Bola Tinubu’s decision to eliminate a fuel subsidy. Fuel prices spiked and other items, including food, saw price increases as a result of this measure to save government spending.
Demands Change
Protesters in Nigeria are calling for sweeping changes to the country’s voting process and legal system. Though the majority of the rallies in Kano were peaceful, a representative from the governor’s office, Abba Kabir Yusuf, stressed that the curfew was necessary to stop the “rampant looting, destruction of property, and violence” carried out by “thugs.” The Yobe State Government has also instituted a curfew in the towns of Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru because local “hoodlums” have been looting and vandalizing property in response to the demonstrations. The authorities of Katsina state also said that “miscreants” had “hijacked the protests” there.
In summary
The persistent demonstrations in Nigeria serve as a stark reminder of the widespread discontent among the general public over the country’s economic woes and its leadership. Restoring peace and stability will depend on the government’s response and commitment to address the core causes of the disturbance as the nation navigates through these challenging times.
