Bullets, tear gas reportedly fired at journalists covering protests in Nigeria

Nigerian security forces fired bullets and tear gas at protesters and journalists during demonstrations against the country’s economic crisis in the capital, Abuja, on Saturday, according to journalists at the scene and videos seen by the Associated Press news agency.

It was not immediately clear whether the projectiles fired at the journalists were rubber bullets or live rounds. However, AP was able to see the aftermath of the attack, including bullet holes in one of the journalists’ cars and live rounds at the protest site.

At least 50 journalists were arrested Saturday during protests in Abuja, Amnesty International Nigeria said. Nearly 700 protesters have so far been arrested across the country and nine police officers have been injured during the protests, now in their third day, the Nigerian police said.

The protests are mainly aimed at denouncing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation and accusations of misgovernance and corruption in Africa’s most populous country. Nigeria is one of the continent’s top oil producers and its civil servants are among the highest paid in Africa, while the country’s population is among the poorest and hungriest.

At the Nigerian national stadium where dozens of protesters had gathered, police were seen firing tear gas to disperse the demonstrations shortly before the arrival of hooded agents believed to be Nigerian intelligence, according to several protesters, journalists and videos shared with the AP.

The Nigerian State Department, whose officers are usually masked, quickly dispersed the protesters and then fired shots at journalists still at the scene, according to six journalists present who spoke to the AP.

A video filmed by one of the journalists shows the gunmen chasing people outside the stadium. Their vehicles, at least five in number, were parked next to those of the Nigerian police.

“It was shocking because they considered us journalists and we told them we were journalists,” said Abdulkareem Mojeed, one of the attacked. His car was riddled with at least three bullets.

The journalists said they were standing far away from the protesters, wearing vests identifying them as media and standing next to vehicles with media logos when they were targeted.

A Secret Service spokesman did not respond to AP requests for comment by phone or email. The Secret Service, known for its brutality, has often been accused of violent attacks and wrongful arrests.

Journalist Abdulqudus Ogundapo said he feared for his safety when he was caught in the gunfire. “My first reaction was, ‘Let me be safe,’” he said.

Journalists are frequently targeted by security forces while carrying out their duties in Nigeria, which is ranked 112th out of 180 countries in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

Protesters have also been targeted by gunfire in the country, including during deadly 2020 protests against police brutality.

At least 31 cases of attacks on journalists, including 11 arrests, have been recorded since the start of the protests against the increase in the cost of living, according to the Center for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), an institute monitoring press attacks focused on West Africa.

“Rather than ensuring the safety of journalists… security officials have behaved in a manner that suggests they are deliberately attacking journalists,” said Adebayo Aare, CJID’s media freedom project officer.

Nigerian police said seven people had died in the protests so far, but none had been killed by security forces. Amnesty International said at least nine protesters had been killed by security forces.

A police officer, who had been reported dead by authorities, “miraculously survived,” police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said in a statement, which also called for an end to the protests.