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Nigeria forces open fire at protest over deaths of detainees, witnesses say

By Thomson Reuters Sep 18, 2026 | 5:40 AM

MINNA, Nigeria Sept 18 (Reuters) – Security forces opened ​fire as ‌people took to the streets of a city in ‌central Nigeria ​on ⁠Friday to ⁠protest against the deaths of 37 detainees in ​the custody of a ⁠paramilitary ⁠force, witnesses said.

A ​Reuters witness said ​some protestors in ‌Minna, the capital of Niger State, were ⁠armed with sticks, machetes and traditional ⁠hunting ‌rifles. At ⁠least one ​body ‌lay on the ​streets.

(Reporting ⁠by Ibrahim Ndamitso; Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Toby ​Chopra)