Hardship: Zamfara protester recounts alleged police brutalisation

Malam Umar Hadi Abubakar has cried out to the authorities about how he was allegedly brutalised while protesting the hardship in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.

Abubakar, in a statement made available to the Guardian in Abuja on Wednesday, claimed that policemen attached to the Zamfara State Government House applied brute force on them unjustly.

He said: “I am among the protesters that led the protest in Zamfara State on Monday, 5th Aug. 2024, in front of Zamfara State Government House. While the peaceful protest was going on, we demanded to see the government representatives to come out to listen to our problems.

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“But they refused to do so. Instead, they fired tear gas at everyone, and they even set fire to tyres. So I ran out to get water to stop the fire. Immediately after stopping the fire, police officers just took me and started beating and insulting me.

“They even put tear gas on my face. They said that they would kill me. After they beat me for at least 30 minutes, then the soldiers came and saved me from the police and they took me to their place. Up to today, Tuesday, 7th Aug. 2024, I’m not feeling fine.

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“And I don’t see normally with my eyes. With this, I am calling the attention of Nigerian human rights organisations, journalists, and anybody that is responsible for human justice to look into what happened to me and find justice for me and every human being that is facing similar issues as mine.”