Widespread protests were reported across Nigeria as thousands of discontent citizens gathered to protest government policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies, hunger and the rising cost of living. The protests entitled “EndBadGovernance” began on 1 August 2024 and were marked by violent clashes between protesters and security forces across several states, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 civilians including minors, with several injuries reported. The situation was particularly volatile in the northern part of Nigeria where the military and police met protesters with deadly use of force; attacks on media personnel, firing of live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Additionally, hundreds of protesters were arrested as authorities attempted to put an end to the demonstrations.

In July 2024, organizers of the protest, including activists and some northern groups, had called for a ten-day protest to demand an end to bad leadership. In response to the announcement, government officials, the Nigerian military and police authorities issued a series of statements labelling the protest a deliberate attempt to incite violence, a move which was seen as an effort to prevent the protests from taking place.

In an article, human rights organization, Amnesty International urged the government to respect the right to peaceful protests. However, as the group predicted, casualties were recorded on the first day of the protest in some northern states like Niger, Borno and Kaduna where police intervened violently killing. Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the actions of law enforcement in a post on its official ‘X’ page and called on the government to hold those responsible for the killings accountable.

Amid all the events happening in the country, President Bola Tinubu remained silent before and after the protests commenced, as Nigerians continued to put pressure on the government calling for him to address the nation. On the fourth day of the protests, on 4 August 2024, in a 7:00 am live broadcast, Tinubu urged Nigerians to exercise patience and suspend the ongoing protests without addressing the major issues raised.

Critics, including the opposition, argued that a timely address or even a proactive dialogue before the demonstrations commenced might have prevented the unrest. Nigerian law enforcement, particularly the Nigerian police force has a history of engaging unarmed protesters with lethal force which has been condemned by civil society organisations. Despite the right to peaceful demonstration, Tinubu failed to intervene at the start when the violence began to escalate.

The recent events awakened memories of the 2020 #EndSARS police brutality protests where over 50 protesters were reportedly killed by security personnel, mostly at the Lekki Toll gate in Lagos State. The Nigerian Police Force’s abuse of power in non-threatening situations involving civilians continues to pose a threat to civilians exercising their human rights. Anti-government protests are not new in the Nigerian political and economic landscape. However, a major turning point in how public response to the worsening economic crisis occurred during the 2012 nationwide #OccupyNigeria protests. The nation was almost brought to a standstill as thousands marched against former President Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement to end fuel subsidies.

Police reform in Nigeria is an over-flogged topic, yet it remains crucial for addressing issues like excessive use of force to clamp down on protests. The urgency to deal with deep-rooted problems of human rights abuses and unprofessionalism within the police force and military remains crucial.