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A police officer and a civilian were killed in the Nigerian city of Lagos as protests against police brutality continue for a sixth day.
There are reports that the police used live ammunition against protesters in the country’s largest city.
This comes a day after a notorious police unit charged with illegal arrests and murder was officially disbanded.
Protesters have long called for the Special Anti-Theft Squad (Sars) to be disbanded.
But they remain unhappy after Sunday’s announcement that officers are being reassigned to other units instead of being disciplined.
Eyewitnesses say there were multiple casualties among the protesters after police opened fire on them in the Surulere area of Lagos on Monday, the BBC’s Ishaq Khalid reports from the capital Abuja.
Some of the protesters reportedly threw stones at the police. Police say one officer was killed and two others seriously injured by what they called “armed protesters.”
Meanwhile, Lagos police and protesters blame each other for the death of a 55-year-old man.
An aide to President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the use of live bullets against protesters by the police. There are reports that armed trucks have been deployed at the Lagos airport to break up protests blocking access to the airport.
Earlier, the president promised “extensive” police reforms and said that Sars agents responsible for human rights violations would be brought to justice.
But the latest alleged use of live bullets by the police against protesters could further enrage activists and give more credibility to their complaints, says our correspondent.
In Monday’s video address, President Buhari said that the dissolution of Sars was “only the first step” in a series of reforms, but added that the police officers were hard-working and that the reputation of the force should not be seen. tarnished by “a few bad eggs.” .
The dissolution of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to comprehensive police reforms to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of the lives and livelihoods of our people. pic.twitter.com/XjQMSr3jlm
– Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) October 12, 2020
In a statement, Nigerian Police Chief Mohammed Adamu said the abuse allegations would be investigated by a committee that includes members of civil society.
However, many are concerned that suspected criminals will continue to serve in the force, and it is unclear if any officers will be prosecuted for past abuses.
Skeptics also point to the fact that this is the fourth time in as many years that promises have been made to dissolve or reform Sars.
After Sunday’s announcement that the police unit would be disbanded, there were reports of officers continuing to use tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition against protesters in the capital Abuja and the southwestern state of Oyo. raising concerns that the people in Sar had not been removed from duty.
It wasn’t until musician Davido joined the protests in Abuja that the police stopped arresting protesters.
Nigerian musician Davido joins the Abuja protest to demand justice for the victims of SARS brutality pic.twitter.com/AAqeuflvpD
– 💰Blogger Blogger💰 (@KadaNaija) October 11, 2020
It is also feared that if thousands of Sars officers were fired at once, they could pose a security threat.
Activists say abuses carried out during the protests, including beatings, intimidation and the disproportionate use of force against protesters, were committed by non-Sars police officers.
They say that a total reform of the police is needed in Nigeria.
Over the weekend, protests against Sars spread to Europe and Canada following reports of illegal arrests, torture and shootings.
What do the protesters want?
#EndSARS activists have circulated a list of five key demands to achieve reform. These are:
- The immediate release of all arrested protesters.
- Justice for those killed by police brutality and compensation for their families
- An independent body to investigate and prosecute misconduct.
- Independent psychological evaluations and retraining for dismissed Sars officers who wish to be reassigned
- A salary increase for the police so that they are “adequately compensated for protecting the life and property of citizens”
How did Sars operate?
The latest round of protests was sparked by footage of officers taking two men out of a Lagos hotel onto the street and shooting one of them.
The footage, leaked to the media, sparked outrage and led many to share stories of brutality attributed to the unit, which has gained notoriety for improperly profiling young people, says the BBC’s Nduka Orjinmo in Abuja.
Those considered “flashy” often attract the attention of Sars officers and very few walk away without handing over money, while others are arrested or jailed on trumped-up charges and some have been killed, our correspondent adds.
Earlier this year, the human rights group Amnesty said it had documented at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial execution between January 2017 and May this year.
The victims were mainly men between 18 and 35 years old from poor backgrounds and vulnerable groups. Many of those tortured were beaten with clubs and machetes and denied medical attention, the group said.
The “systemic use of torture … points to an utter disregard for international human rights laws and standards,” Amnesty said.
Why didn’t the reform work?
The #EndSARS hashtag was first thought to have been used in 2018, but it surfaced again a week ago.
There have been previous attempts to reform the notorious squad:
- December 2017: Outrage prompts then-Nigerian Police Chief Ibrahim Idris to order an immediate reorganization of the anti-theft unit in the wake of a viral video showing a young man allegedly killed by police.
- August 2018Acting President Yemi Osinbajo orders a review of Sars, wanting a new unit whose officers wear proper identification while on duty. He also asks the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission to set up a special panel to investigate Sars’ past violations.
- January 2019: Newly appointed Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu announces comprehensive reform of the Sars and temporarily decentralizes the unit. Human rights group Amnesty says reforms do not go far enough for citizens to trust the police
- February 2020: Police Chief Mohammed Adamu gives instructions to dissolve Sars satellite offices
However, activists say none of these have made much of a difference in the behavior of the force.
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