Nigeria’s president blames ‘hooliganism’ for deaths of civilians

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Picture: Bayo Omoboriowo/AP

Nigeria’s president says 51 civilians have been killed in unrest following days of peaceful protests over police abuses, and he blames “hooliganism” for the violence while asserting that security forces have used “extreme restraint.”

President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments in a statement released late on Friday are expected to further inflame tensions after Amnesty International reported that soldiers shot and killed at least 12 demonstrators on Tuesday night as a large crowd sang the national anthem.