Ahmad 
Nigeria is witnessing a wave of widespread protests due to the deteriorating economic conditions and the high cost of living, as police arrested dozens of protesters and used tear gas to disperse them in the capital, Abuja.
These protests came in the context of escalating tensions over three consecutive days of protests, which erupted due to the worsening economic difficulties resulting from economic reforms implemented by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of gasoline subsidies and the devaluation of the local currency, which led to a sharp rise in inflation rates.
The protests in the northern state of Kano witnessed an escalation of violence, as eyewitnesses reported that a person was shot in the neck, while Amnesty International confirmed that at least 13 people were killed as a result of the police’s use of live ammunition.
For its part, the police denied responsibility for the deaths of the protesters but admitted to killing 7 people in the past three days and announced the arrest of about 700 people.
The events reflect growing public anger over the government’s economic policies, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets in cities including the capital Abuja and the commercial city of Lagos to denounce economic hardship and call for changes to policies they see as unfair.
The authorities have responded by attempting to restrict the movement of protesters by increasing the security presence and using force to disperse gatherings.
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