Law Enforcement and Public Order: Monitoring the #EndBadGovernance Protests

 

Background

The #EndBadGovernance movement in Nigeria has emerged as a powerful response to the deep-seated economic hardships and governance-related challenges that have beleaguered the nation for decades. This grassroots movement, predominantly driven by the youth, has gained significant traction through social media platforms, voicing widespread dissatisfaction with the country’s persistent economic struggles and systemic failures. The #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria have been a significant movement calling for accountability, transparency, and improvements in governance.

Nigeria, despite its vast natural resources, has struggled with economic instability characterized by high unemployment rates, inflation, and a widening gap between the rich and the poor. The economic policies of successive governments have failed to translate into tangible improvements for the average Nigerian, leading to widespread poverty and disillusionment. Youth unemployment, in particular, remains alarmingly high, with many young Nigerians unable to find meaningful employment despite their educational qualifications.

The #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria highlight the urgent need to address the economic hardships and governance-related challenges that have hindered the country’s development. This movement represents a critical call for comprehensive reforms to create a more equitable, transparent, and accountable governance system that can deliver economic stability and improve the quality of life for all Nigerians.

Purpose of the Report

The primary purpose of this report is to monitor and evaluate the conduct and activities of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and personnel deployed to oversee the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria. This report aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of how law enforcement officers have managed the protests, focusing on their adherence to legal standards, respect for human rights, and effectiveness in preventing the breakdown of law and order across the country. By documenting and analyzing the actions of LEAs, this report seeks to identify best practices, highlight areas for improvement, and offer recommendations to enhance the capacity and performance of law enforcement in handling peaceful demonstrations. Ultimately, this report strives to ensure accountability, transparency, and the protection of citizens’ rights during times of civil unrest.

Methodology

The methodology for this report involves a systematic and structured approach to monitoring the conduct and activities of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) during the #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria. The following steps outline the key components of the methodology:

1. Deployment of Observers:

CLEEN Foundation deployed a network of trained observers to major cities across the country where the protests were most prominent. These cities included Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu, among others.

1. Development of Monitoring Tool:

CLEEN developed a specialized Law Enforcement Officers’ Conduct Monitoring Tool integrated into the CLEENMobileApp. This tool was designed to capture real-time data on the behavior and actions of law enforcement personnel during the protests.

1. Data Collection:

Observers utilized the monitoring tool to provide regular updates on the conduct of LEAs. The tool allowed for the recording of various indicators, including the use of force, adherence to human rights standards, engagement with protesters, and any incidents of misconduct or abuse.

1. Observer Composition:

The observers included a diverse group of professionals and members of the Civil Society community from across the country. Their backgrounds ensured a comprehensive and unbiased perspective on the events as they unfolded.

1. Data Transmission and Analysis:

Observers submitted their reports through the CLEENMobileApp, ensuring timely and accurate data collection. The data was then compiled, analyzed, and reviewed by a team of experts to identify trends, patterns, and areas of concern.

1. Verification and Validation:

To ensure the reliability and validity of the collected data, cross-referencing with other sources such as media reports, eyewitness accounts, and official statements was conducted. This triangulation method helped to confirm the accuracy of the observations.

Day 2 Observation

1. Spread of the Protest

The data from the CLEEN Foundation National Protest Monitoring Situation Room indicates that the day two protests were held across 13 states and Abuja. The states that recorded Nationwide protest on Day Two, 2^nd August 2024 are: Edo and Rivers – South-South, Lagos and Ogun – South West, Kaduna and Zamfara – North West, Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe – North East, Plateau  and Abuja – North Central. This represents a sharp decline of more than 50% from the spread on the first day of the protest that recorded 29 states. This can be attributed to the violent nature of the protest in some states that led to looting, vandalization of properties, shootings and some fatalities recorded on the first day as well as the response of the government and the security agencies through the imposition of Curfews, some states.

2. Conduct of the Law Enforcement Personnel

Data received from observers suggests that law enforcement personnel are largely approachable and courteous across the states monitored. The data also shows that in states with a high propensity for violence, like Borno, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kaduna, law enforcement personnel were seen to be on red alert, which has likewise affected their disposition towards protesters.

3. Presence of Law Enforcement Personnel

The Law enforcement agencies has maintained their deployment across all the strategic locations in all the states nationwide. According to the reports from the trained CLEEN Foundation Observers, Law Enforcement Agencies were seen at strategic locations in the various states across the country.

4. Description of Protesters

The Observers reported only the one group of protesters, the End Bad Governance protesters in the 6 states and Abuja. The Pro-government protesters observed on the first day of the protest were not seen on the second day of the protest in the states that recorded protest on the second day. However, the presence of juveniles were still observed in the Nationwide Protest in Nigeria.

5. Accountability of Arrested Protesters

Data from CLEEN Foundation National Protest Situation Room indicated that only Sokoto Police Command has officially given an account of arrested protesters in the state. Also, 12 arrested persons in Lagos state have been released however the Lagos state command is yet to give official account of all the arrested protesters in the state. The same applies to the remaining 27 states that protest were held on the first of the protests in Nigeria. State Police Commands across the country have not provided the statistics for persons that have been arrested during the protest.

6. Road Blocks

The blocked roads from Day One protests have been cleared. There were vehicular disrutions in Abuja and some parts of lagos due to the activities of the protesters. Observers noted traffic movements in the seven states that recorded second day protests and Abuja.

7. Looting and Vandalism

There were no incidents of looting and vandalism on the second day of protests across the seven states and Abuja.

8. Killing of protesters and security personnel

The number of verified protesters shot to death by Law enforcement personnel since the protest started remained same from first day as no killing was recorded on the second Day of the protest across the seven states and Abuja.

9. Arrest/Shooting of Protesters

The CLEEN Foundation National Protest Situation Room received reports from the Observers that the Law Enforcement personnel arrested protesters across the states since the protests started in 1^st August 2024. Similarly, there were reports of shooting and injuring protesters since the protest started. For instance, at Madalla junction along Abuja-Kaduna express way, a protester was shot by Law enforcement personnel and he was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

10. The Use of Juveniles:

CLEEN Foundation also observes that the use of juveniles still continues unabated by protesters.

11. Small Arms and Light Weapons:

The Kano State Command recovered 2 AK47 assault rifles from protesters.

12. Curfews

The Curfews has increased from Four state governments to five state governments out of 29  states and Abuja where the protest held with Jigawa state government declaring Curfew in the state.  The curfew is a measure of curtailing the negative effect of the protests after the protesters turned violent to loot and vandalize properties during the Day One of the protest. Recall at the end of day one of the protests on the 1^st of August, 2024, Kano, Taraba, Borno and Niger states respectively declared curfew in response to the violent protests recorded in the states.

Recommendations

CLEEN Foundation makes the following recommendations in view of the above observations:

1. The Nigeria Police Force should make the number of arrested protesters public across Commands to further entrench neutrality and transparency by the Police.

 

2. The Nigeria Police Force should ensure that the rights of the arrested protesters are not violated and ensure due diligence as enshrined in extant laws of the country.

 

3. The media should be more responsive to ensure that any misinformation and disinformation is immediately retracted and fact checked to avoid misleading citizens’ into any form of incitement that might lead to breakdown of law and order.

 

4. CLEEN Foundation condemns the use of juveniles by protesters which continue to prevail in most locations. This is against the extant laws and particularly the child rights Act.

 

5. The government should ensure that the Military stays away from Policing the Nationwide protest as the Police has demonstrated enough capacity to handle the situation across the country. The military should avoid making inflammatory and unnecessary statements.

 

6. CLEEN Foundation wishes to reiterate her call to protesters to remain peaceful and avoid taking laws into their hands STOP the use of juveniles as a shield.

 

7. Hospitals should ensure that protesters who have sustained injuries during the period are well taken care of, lives of victims of gun shots should be saved first before demanding for police reports.

 

8. Civil society organizations and other stakeholders should continue to monitor the process protests closely, document and disseminate their observations.

 

9. The National Human Rights Commission and Nigeria Bar Association should ensure that there is justice for violation of the rights of protesters by law enforcement agencies.

 

10. The Nigeria Customs Service should increase surveillance in the border community to reduce the inflow of small arms and light weapons into the country and the inflow of mercenaries.

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