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STORY: Fitness coach Hamed Shafau is among those refusing to join nationwide protests in Nigeria.

And he's got a valid reason.

Nearly four years ago he joined demonstrations against police brutality at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.

"We were many there. It was a peaceful protest until government ordered the military men to open fire, it was only God that saved me, we were many dead."

Nigerians have again been protesting.

This time it's economic hardship and crime that have brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets.

And again, Nigerian police are being accused of using lethal force.

Amnesty International says at least 13 people have been killed in clashes with police since the unrest began last Thursday (August 1).

Police have put the death toll at seven, blaming some of the fatalities on accidents and an explosive device.

The demonstrations were meant to continue until August 10, but on Monday (August 5) appeared to have fizzled out with only a few hundred protesters turning up in major cities.

At the weekend, President Bola Tinubu called for a suspension of the protests in favor of dialogue.

But the firm police response may also be a reason people have stayed at home.

"Do you tell me that the same government that does not care about the masses, is it the same government that you want me to go and endanger my life again in this protest?"

For Shafau, a soaring cost of living in Nigeria is having a direct impact on his business.

He says his clients have drastically reduced in number over the past year.

But, he adds, he'd rather find alternative sources of income than join the protesters and rather pray than put his life in the hands of the Nigerian government.