Bloody clashes between police and civilians in Nigeria: 69 killed

The president blamed the protesters

Lagos, Ta. Saturday, October 24, 2020

A total of 69 people have been killed in violence in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. Violence erupted after protesters used force against peaceful protesters. The violence killed 51 civilians and 18 policemen.

Naijiriyamam passed peacefully protested for several days in police vandalism. Citizens joined the demonstrations in large numbers and protested the police's treatment of civilians. A total of 69 people were killed in the ensuing violence, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said, adding that 51 civilians had been killed in the clashes between police and civilians.

Eighteen members of the security forces were also killed. The president appealed to the protesters to keep the peace. The president blamed civilians for the incident, saying that for days the security forces acted with restraint, but some riotous elements broke the law.

The president said rioters had killed 18 policemen in riots. The security forces are working to identify all the accused. The people also expressed outrage against the president as he favored the security forces who used force against him instead of the peaceful protesters.

The president's statement drew worldwide criticism. Amnesty International has slammed President Buhari's stance, saying "soldiers and police incited violence by firing on peaceful protesters."

Clashes between police and protesters erupted earlier this month. A new notification gave the police a number of powers. There were protests against it. The protesters accused the police of using it to harass people.