'Many dead' after Nigeria security forces shoot on protesters: Amnesty International

Amnesty International says there is “credible but disturbing evidence” in the Nigerian city of Lagos that security forces have shot dead over a dozen protesters demonstrating against police brutality.

Amnesty International has received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos. #EndSARS #Lekki #Nigeria
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 20, 2020

Many of the shootings occurred in the city’s wealthy Lekki neighbourhood, with witnesses and local media reporting security forces had opened fire on demonstrators who had breached a 24-hour curfew.

For two weeks people across Nigeria have been protesting against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit that human rights groups have blamed for abuses including violence and torture against civilians.

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“Amnesty International has received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos,” the NGO tweeted on Tuesday night.

The government has since disbanded the unit, but the protests have continued.

The protest movement, known as #endSARS, has attracted international attention, with Nigerian football stars based abroad and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton among those calling on the authorities to end their crackdown.

There have also been cases of looting and arson across the country in recent days.