Nigeria - August 2024

Dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured as security forces violently repressed protests against the soaring cost of living. The demonstrations were sparked by President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies that triggered inflation and surging prices, as inflation rose to a 30-year high of 34 per cent in June. Despite warnings from ruling party members, religious clerics and even opposition leaders, tens of thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets, even in northern states where socio-economic protests are rare. The violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces led to the authorities imposing 24-hour curfews across several states to quell the protests. Journalists covering the events were also targeted, with several reportedly brutalized by security forces, while reports have also emerged of state-sponsored armed groups attacking protesters.

Sources: Africa Confidential, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, X, The Africa Report, International Federation of Journalists