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By ANA Reporter 
20h ago
Johannesburg – Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the slaughter of protesters protesting against police brutality in the West African country.
Protests against the notorious Special Anti-Theft Squad (SARS) that erupted earlier this month have continued even after the government agreed to disband the unit, known for beating and torturing citizens.
Clinton’s call, posted on her Twitter account, came after several people participating in the protests, who have drawn widespread attention due to the viral social media hashtag #EndSARS, were shot or injured in Lekki’s toll on Nigeria’s populous population. Lagos town on Tuesday night.
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army to stop killing young #EndSARS protesters. #Stop the Nigerian government, ”Clinton said.
BBC broadcaster reported that a witness had counted about 20 bodies and at least 50 people injured after soldiers opened fire on the crowd.
The Nigerian military has refuted the accusations of killings or injuries. On his official Twitter page, he posted screenshots of stories from various media outlets reporting on the shootings, and tagged them as “fake news.”
Authorities have promised an investigation into the shootings, but have imposed an indefinite 24-hour curfew in Lagos and other areas.
The human rights group Amnesty International said it had received credible evidence of excessive use of force that led to the deaths of protesters at the Lekki tollbooth.
“As we continue to investigate the killings, Amnesty International wishes to remind the authorities that, according to international law, security forces may only resort to the use of deadly force when strictly unavoidable to protect themselves against an imminent threat of death or serious injury.” He said.
On Monday, Amnesty spokesperson Isa Sanusi told Agence France-Presse that at least 15 people, including two policemen, had been killed since the protests broke out earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Nigerians in South Africa said they would march in solidarity with their compatriots at home.
A flyer posted on the Facebook page of the Nigeria Union of South Africa on Monday, and confirmed by its president Adetola Olubajo, said that the citizens of the West African country would gather on Wednesday for a peaceful march towards the Nigerian High Commissioner in the capital, Pretoria.
African News Agency (ANA)
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