A viral video has surfaced showing police officers opening fire on an #EndBadGovernance protester in Azare town, Bauchi State. The footage, reportedly recorded on Monday afternoon, shows an officer hitting the victim twice before pointing his rifle and shooting him as the crowd screamed in shock.
The incident occurred near the Katagum Local Government secretariat during clashes between protesters and police, some of whom were using the Russian flag.
Despite various social media claims, the officers involved have not been identified, and police authorities have yet to issue an official statement. An anonymous resident alleged the deceased was a thug arrested by the police, but this claim remains unverified.
In response to the violence, including the setting of fires and vandalism at the local government secretariat and former Deputy Governor Baba Tela’s home, the Bauchi State government imposed a 24-hour curfew in Katagum LGA.
Amnesty International condemned the use of lethal force against protesters, stating that security personnel employed tactics designed to kill while managing the gatherings. However, Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi claimed that while there were instances of killings, none were carried out by the police. Following deadly protests in Kano over the weekend, Amnesty International called for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the fatal shootings, which reportedly resulted in at least 10 deaths.
Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, also urged the police and other security forces to stop what he termed a “massacre” of protesters.