Thu 22 October 2020:
In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty International said it had confirmed that the Nigerian army and police killed at least 12 peaceful protesters in Lekki and Alausa, another protest ground in Lagos, after firing on thousands of peaceful demonstrators.
Following a hospital visit to victims of what he described as the “unfortunate shooting incident” in Lekki, Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said one person had died from a blow to the head – but it was not clear if the person was a demonstrator.
“It is imperative to explain that no governor controls the rules of engagement of the army,” said Sanwo-Olu, who cited what he described as the degeneration of protests “into a monster” when he announced the curfew. “I have nevertheless instructed an investigation into the ordered and the adopted rules of engagement employed by the men of the Nigerian army deployed to the Lekki Toll Gate,” he added.
The Nigerian army, however, denied the involvement of their men in the shooting. In a Twitter post, it said no soldiers were at the scene in Lekki and went on to label several reports as fake news.
A clearer video of the Nigerian Army shooting at unarmed peaceful protesters in Lekki toll gate.
PASS IT ON!!#EndSARS
pic.twitter.com/iqxLwUEQGk— Elvis Tunde ➐ (@Tunnykvng) October 20, 2020
UN call for investigate the violence
The United Nations demanded an end to police “brutality” in Nigeria on Wednesday after Amnesty International reported that Nigerian security forces shot and killed peaceful protesters in the latest escalation of the two-weeks-long unrest.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged “the security forces to act at all times with maximum restraint” and also called on protesters “to demonstrate peacefully and to refrain from violence,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
Guterres said gunmen that opened fire on peaceful protesters Tuesday evening in Lagos caused “multiple deaths” and numerous injuries.
The UN chief urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate the violence and “hold the perpetrators accountable.”
The governor of Lagos initially said that no fatalities had been recorded, but later said authorities were investigating the death of one person.
EU call for justice
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday also condemned the killing of protesters and called for justice.
“It is alarming to learn that several people have been killed and injured during the ongoing protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] in Nigeria,” he said. “It is crucial that those responsible of abuses be brought to justice and held accountable.”
Meanwhile, Lagos stayed under a round-the-clock curfew enforced by police on Wednesday.
Tensions running high
Lagos remained on edge on Wednesday as protesters defied the round-the-clock curfew and gunfire was heard. Some public buildings and a private television station were also attacked by criminal elements, according to reports.
Demonstrators in Lagos have long expressed fears that provocateurs might be used to disrupt the peaceful character of their movement and create the conditions that would justify a security crackdown against them.
Early on Tuesday, police authorities announced that anti-riot forces would be immediately deployed across the country to maintain law and order, while soldiers have also been patrolling in major cities where violence has been reported.
As President Muhammadu Buhari appealed for “understanding and calm”, Amnesty International said it was investigating “credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters” at the toll gate.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
