The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the police and other security agencies to stop shooting and killing protesters demanding good governance in Nigeria.
In a Saturday statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero questioned the professionalism of the security agencies in the handling of the ongoing nationwide protests.
“With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at 40+ in two days of managing the the EndHunger protest across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to call to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but MASSACRE of citizens.
“Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado,” Mr Ajaero wrote.
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It has been circulating, reports about how the police and sister security agencies have used force, including the use of tear gas and live bullets, to disperse peaceful protesters in many states, including the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
Amnesty International reports that at least 13 people have been killed during the protests, most by the police and other security agencies.
The police, however, said seven people have been killed during the protests, none of them by security operatives.
Deaths have been recorded in states like Niger, Kano, and Borno as Nigerians continue the protest, tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
The protesters want an improvement in the economy and are demanding a reversal of some government policies including the removal of petrol subsidies.
Nigeria is currently witnessing its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation due to government policies.
