Nationwide Protest: States And Number Of People Killed As Protest Turns Bloody

At least 17 people were feared killed during the #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria on Thursday, with fatalities reported in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa.

In Abuja and Kano, one person was shot dead in each city. Two people were killed in Jigawa, six in Niger, four in Borno, and three in Kaduna. The protests began peacefully but turned violent in some areas, leading to confrontations between police and demonstrators.

In anticipation of potential violence, businesses, banks, shopping plazas, and some markets remained closed.

In Abuja, a protester was shot dead along the Kubwa expressway. An eyewitness named Ekaete reported that the man, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was killed after protesters blocked the highway and harassed motorists, prompting police to fire live rounds.

“I was waiting for a bus on the expressway when the protesters blocked the highway and harassed motorists. When they became violent, the police fired live shots, killing a young man. Everyone fled when he fell,” Ekaete recounted.

In another incident, protesters gathered at Eagles Square, near the Presidential Villa, chanting the old national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” and demanding an end to bad governance. Security operatives responded by firing teargas to disperse the crowd, but the protesters shouted back in defiance.