Shehu Sani Speaks Out as Deaths, Destruction Mar Nigeria's Hardship Protests: "Scores Dead"

• Shehu Sani has pleaded with citizens to call off the ongoing nationwide protest against economic hardship
• Legit.ng reports that Sani emphasised that civil unrest was not a viable solution and would only worsen northern Nigeria’s fragile condition
• The former federal lawmaker observed with concern how the protest that commenced peacefully on Thursday, August 1, turned violent, resulting in the loss of lives and property

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs.

FCT, Abuja - Shehu Sani, a former senator who represented Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, has called for the discontinuation of the ongoing protests against hardship in several Nigerian states.

Legit.ng reports that rights group Amnesty International said at least 13 people died during the nationwide protests.

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The non-governmental organisation (NGO) accused security forces of deliberately using tactics "designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty."

In the same vein, the demonstrators accused security forces of firing at them unjustly.

The Punch reported that no fewer than 17 persons were feared killed in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa on Thursday, August 1, alone.

Reacting to the killings, Sani wrote on his known X (formerly Twitter) page:

"With scores dead, hundreds injured and properties worth billions of Naira belonging to private businesses and government destroyed by hoodlums, mostly in Northern states, those wishing to encourage the continuation of this protest, especially in the North should reconsider.

"At our end, it is violent protest without visible leadership and must be discontinued."

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Lagos police react to reports it banned protest after Tinubu’s broadcast

Read more on hardship protests

• Protests: Dele Momodu speaks on possibility of Tinubu declaring state of emergency
• "'EndBadGovernance' Protest has already achieved 25% of its purpose", prominent activist declares
• Lagos police disclose time hardship demonstration must end, “hijack of the protests”
• Sanwo Olu speaks out on claims hardship protesters want to overthrow Tinubu
• Hardship protest: Professor Farooq Kperogi identifies ‘sponsors’

Protests: Obi laments killings

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, lamented the killing of some 'End Bad Governance' protesters.

In a statement he personally signed and shared on his verified X account, Obi asked security agents to be professional.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng