Following violent protests, Nigerian police may ask the army for assistance

According to the inspector general of police, protests against the high cost of living and difficulties with governance turned violent in certain towns, putting Nigerian police on high alert and perhaps requesting military assistance.

Protesters and Reuters reporters reported that at least three demonstrators had died in northern Kaduna state on Thursday.

Amnesty International reported on Friday that at least 13 demonstrators had died overall in three northern states; however, no comments have been made by the authorities regarding any of the killings.

A day after clashes between police and protestors in several major towns, including the capital Abuja and Kano in the north, things were calm on Friday. However, more protests are anticipated due to widespread resentment over President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, which have made life more difficult for average Nigerians.

Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector general of police, declared late on Thursday that the police were fully mobilized and prepared to act quickly in the event that there were any more threats to public order.

“All units of the Nigeria Police Force have been placed on red alert due to the current situation,” stated a statement from Egbetokun.

“The police are equipped to respond appropriately to the unfolding situation and will get assistance from other security agencies, including the military if the need arises.”

Nigerians launched the “#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria” protests online, vowing to continue for ten days, after being inspired by youth-led demonstrations in Kenya.

According to Amnesty International, security forces are to blame for the 13 killings that occurred in the northern states of Niger, Kaduna, and Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

“Our findings, so far, show that security personnel at the locations where lives were lost deliberately used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty,” concluded the report.

Requests for response from a Nigerian police spokeswoman were not immediately answered.

Mansur Hassan, a spokesman for the Kaduna state police, stated on Thursday that while tear gas had been fired at demonstrators, live bullets had not been deployed.

Three other states also implemented curfews in certain areas, including Kano, one of the most populous and predominantly Muslim states in Nigeria, eased a 24-hour curfew that had been enforced following looting of a government compound and a store by demonstrators.

Even though his reforms have devalued the currency and increased inflation, President Tinubu claims that they are the only way to put Nigeria on a stable road for economic progress, despite the suffering they have inflicted.