Nigerian Police report arresting hundreds during recent protests

Nigerian police arrested over 600 people over two days at protests over economic hardship, a police statement said Saturday.

The rallies have eased since thousands took to the streets on Thursday protesting government policies and the high cost of living.

In a statement Saturday, police said they had arrested 681 people over the first two days of protests, accusing them of "armed robbery, arson, mischief" and destroying property.

Officers arrested 383 people in the northern city of Kano, where there have been intense clashes, said the statement.

Despite a crackdown by the authorities some demonstrators have vowed to keep protesting. They want the government to reduce fuel prices and tackle Nigeria's worst economic crisis in a generation.

In the capital Abuja, security forces fired tear gas towards a group of demonstrators outside the national stadium on Saturday, local media reported.

"The protesters were gathered peacefully, they didn't provoke anyone," said 29-year-old activist Damilare Adenola, leader of the Take It Back group organising protests in the city.

"We are going to continue with the demonstrations," he added.

Nigerian police have disputed accusations by rights group Amnesty International that the security forces have killed 13 protesters.

They give the toll as seven and deny any responsibility.

On Saturday, Amnesty urged police to release demonstrators and refrain from firing live rounds to break up crowds.

"The Nigerian authorities must immediately release all those who have been arrested solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly since the beginning of the nationwide hunger protests," it said in a statement on social media.

Africa's most populous country is battling high inflation and a tumbling naira after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ended a fuel subsidy and liberalised the currency more than a year ago in reforms the government says will improve the economy in the long term.

Dubbed #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria, the protest movement won support with an online campaign.

But officials have warned against attempts to copy the recent violent demonstrations in Kenya, where protesters forced the government to abandon new taxes.