By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
ECOWAS has urged Nigerian protesters to follow President Bola Tinubu’s call for dialogue amid violent demonstrations causing deaths and property damage.
Expressing condolences to affected families, ECOWAS stressed the right to peaceful protest under the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. “The ECOWAS Commission deeply regrets reports of violence and the unfortunate death of some protesters,” the statement read.
The commission backed Tinubu’s State of the Nation address, urging dialogue to resolve issues and maintain peace. Initially driven by hunger and poor governance, protests have escalated into violence, blocking highways and disrupting business in major cities. Tinubu has asked organizers to suspend protests to prevent further violence.