Nigerian President Bola Tinubu<\/a><\/span><\/span> has appealed for protests to end after \u201cbloodshed\u201d during three days of demonstrations over a deepening cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n At least seven people have died and more than 700 have been arrested since Nigerians nationwide rallied on Thursday for the first of 10 planned \u201cdays of rage\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMy dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear,\u201d the president said in a televised address, adding that he understood their \u201cpain and frustration\u201d.<\/p>\n He went on to defend his economic reforms, which the protesters blame for their hardships since he came to office in May 2023, including skyrocketing prices.<\/p>\n The president said the protests had been hijacked by looters in some areas, and ending the unrest would create room for dialogue.<\/p>\n But Mr Tinubu did not indicate that he would reverse his policies, which include removing a petrol subsidy or pegging the local currency to the dollar.<\/p>\n The demonstrations were organised via social media using the hashtag #EndBadGovernance and inspired by the recent success of protesters in Kenya, who forced the government there to scrap plans to increase taxes<\/a>.<\/p>\n President Tinubu also expressed pain over the loss of lives in four northern states and the destruction of public facilities.<\/p>\n Twenty-four-hour curfews remain in place in Borno, Jigawa, Kano and Yobe after authorities there accused \u201choodlums\u201d of violence.<\/p>\n Mr Tinubu said \u201cthe wanton looting of supermarkets and shops\u201d was contrary to the promise of protest organisers.<\/p>\n