Nigerian protests fizzle out after deadly police crackdown
Nigerian protests against economic hardship, which have brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets since August 1, were meant to last for ten days. But on Monday (August 5) few protesters were turning up after a violent police response. - REUTERS
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00:00Fitness coach Hamid Shafau is among those refusing to join nationwide protests in Nigeria.
00:08And he's got a valid reason.
00:11Nearly four years ago, he joined demonstrations against police brutality at the Leki toll
00:17gate in Lagos.
00:19We were there, it was a peaceful protest, and the government's order, the military
00:27to open the firehouse, it was only God that saved me.
00:30We were many there.
00:34Nigerians have again been protesting.
00:37This time, it's economic hardship and crime that have brought hundreds of thousands onto
00:42the streets.
00:45And again, Nigerian police are being accused of using lethal force.
00:52Amnesty International says at least 13 people have been killed in clashes with police in
00:57since the unrest began last Thursday.
01:00Police have put the death toll at seven, blaming some of the fatalities on accidents and an
01:05explosive device.
01:07The demonstrations were meant to continue until August 10th, but on Monday appeared
01:11to have fizzled out with only a few hundred protesters turning up in major cities.
01:17At the weekend, President Bolotonubu called for a suspension of the protests in favour
01:22of dialogue.
01:23But the firm police response may also be a reason people have stayed at home.
01:29Do you tell me the same government that doesn't care about the masses, is it the same government
01:36you want me to go and endanger my life again in this process?
01:40Fushafau, a soaring cost of living in Nigeria, is having a direct impact on his business.
01:47He says his clients have drastically reduced in number over the past year.
01:52But, he adds, he'd rather find alternative sources of income than join the protesters.
01:58And rather pray than put his life in the hands of the Nigerian government.