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#EndBadGovernance: One Year After, Victims Yet To Get Justice, As 24 Allegedly killed

ByYusuf Oketola

PublishedAugust 19, 2025

One year after the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria, Amnesty International has berated the Federal Government for its failure to ensure Justice for victims and survivors who were allegedly killed and brutalized by the police during the mass action across the nation.

According to Amnesty International, Nigerian police killed at least 24 people between August 1-10, 2024, in the Northwest, while several protesters have been convicted in sham trials based on bogus charges.

This was contained in a press release signed by the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, recently.

Sanusi alleged that the victims were shot by the police, firing live ammunition at close range, often at the head or torso.

The statement reads partly: “One year after the police used lethal force and carried out mass arbitrary arrests of peaceful #Endbadgovernance protesters, the Nigerian authorities have failed to ensure justice for victims and survivors, while the police bizarrely continue to deny strong allegations of extrajudicial execution, torture and unlawful arrests of the protesters.

“Amnesty International’s investigation found that the Nigerian police killed at least 24 people between 1-10 August 2024 in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Niger and Kaduna states. Also, several peaceful protesters have been convicted in sham trials based on bogus charges, while trials continue in Abuja, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna states.

“A year on, despite the gravity of these human rights violations, not a single member of the security forces has been prosecuted, as accountability remains elusive for the 24 peaceful protesters killed in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Niger and Kaduna states. Those behind these atrocities must be held to account.

“In all cases, the victims were shot by the police, firing live ammunition at close range, often at the head or torso, suggesting that officers were shooting to kill. Two survivors suffered injuries after being shot by police in the arm and legs, others were suffocated by the indiscriminate use of tear gas.

“While in detention, some of the protesters were tortured and punished with starvation, which led to the collapse of minors facing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 1 November 2024.

“The Nigerian authorities are yet to take appropriate and effective measures to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including by ending the killing, intimidation and harassment of protesters, arbitrary arrests and detention, and mass surveillance, especially in the context of protests,” said Isa Sanusi

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.