Lagos: Protests in Nigeria over the soaring cost of living subsided on Monday, with reduced turnout in major cities following a severe police crackdown. Security forces used lethal force to disperse demonstrations that had erupted last Thursday, initially aimed at continuing until August 10.
In cities such as Abuja and Lagos, which saw large crowds demanding relief from economic hardship and pervasive insecurity, the scale of the protests has significantly diminished. Amnesty International reported at least 13 deaths resulting from clashes with police, while authorities have reported seven fatalities, attributing some to accidents and an explosive device.
The demonstrations have been further subdued by a robust police response and a call for a pause from President Bola Tinubu. In Lagos, where protests had been mostly peaceful, around 100 people gathered at the designated protest area, chanting “we are hungry.” In Abuja, protests at the main stadium, which had been a focal point since Thursday, had completely disappeared.
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Curfews have been enacted in parts of northern Nigeria and the central Plateau state following outbreaks of violence during the protests. On Sunday, President Tinubu called for an end to the violence and expressed his willingness for dialogue. Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has defended his economic reforms, which include ending costly petrol and electricity subsidies and devaluing the naira, as essential measures to address years of economic mismanagement.
