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Sporadic gunfire could still be heard in Lagos on Wednesday morning, an AFP journalist said.
People walk past a road fire during clashes between youth in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 20, 2020, following ongoing demonstrations against unjust SARS brutality. Pic Kola Sulaimon / AFP
LAGOS – Nigerians were left in shock on Wednesday after a deadly shootout against peaceful protesters in the largest city of Lagos, which Amnesty International blamed on security forces.
There was no immediate death toll from Tuesday night’s incident in which witnesses said gunmen opened fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 to disperse them after a curfew was imposed to end the protests. spiraling into police brutality.
Sporadic gunfire could still be heard in Lagos on Wednesday morning, an AFP journalist said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said 25 people were injured and two received intensive care, as local authorities promised to investigate.
“This is the hardest night of our lives, as forces beyond our direct control have moved to take dark notes on our history,” Sanwo-Olu said on Twitter, posting photos of him visiting hospitals in the early hours. Wednesday.
“I recognize that the ball stops at my table and I will work with the FG (federal government) to get to the root of this unfortunate incident,” he added.
Amnesty International said that the security forces killed several people and that they were “working to verify” the death toll.
‘Completely scared’
The Nigerian military did not issue a direct statement, but called the reports of soldiers firing at protesters as “fake news” on Twitter.
Anger over the abuses by the hated Special Anti-Theft Squad (SARS) of the police erupted into widespread protests about two weeks ago, drawing thousands of people to the streets.
Sanwo-Olu had announced an indefinite curfew since Tuesday afternoon in Africa’s largest city after claiming that the demonstrations had been hijacked by criminals.
The police chief also ordered the deployment of riot control units across the country.
Images and videos showing scenes of chaos from the shooting were widely shared on social media.
“At 5 in the morning. We keep getting calls from people from Lekki. All through the night. Some are hiding nearby, some are injured, some are just completely scared,” Nigerian podcast host Feyikemi Abudu said on Twitter. , who has been actively involved in the protests. .
US presidential candidate Joe Biden urged the president and the military to “end the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already led to several deaths.”
“The United States must support Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy,” Biden said in a statement.
“I encourage the government to enter into a good faith dialogue with civil society to address these long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria.”
The protests have multiplied from anger over police violence to broader demands by young people for radical changes in Africa’s most populous nation.
Nigeria, where the average age is 18, is a tinderbox of deep economic and social grievances.
Several celebrities who have supported the protesters have added their voices to calls for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign.
As of Tuesday, some 18 people had been killed in the demonstrations when clashes were reported between protesters and plainclothes assailants.
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