Families of victims killed during the End Bad Governance protest have called on the government and the police to take responsibility for the loss of innocent lives.
They also demanded compensation and justice for what they described as reckless actions by law enforcement officers.
The call was made at a press conference organized by the Victims Support Initiative Nigeria (VSIN) on Monday in Kano.
Speaking on behalf of the victims’ families, Yahya Ibrahim, a grieving father, recounted the tragic loss of his 5-year-old son, who was killed by a stray bullet in his family compound.
“My son was only playing within our compound. He was too young to understand what a protest was, yet he was killed by a policeman’s bullet. The Inspector General’s denial of this incident is a painful reminder of the lack of accountability,” Ibrahim lamented.
The families urged the government to investigate the killings and punish officers responsible for the misuse of firearms.
They also demanded financial compensation for the families who lost loved ones or suffered permanent injuries.
According to Ibrahim, the absence of justice has deepened their pain and left many families without closure. “We will not stop demanding justice until those responsible are held accountable,” he said.
The press conference ended with a collective demand for the government to address the grievances of victims’ families and ensure such incidents do not recur.