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Nigeria's anti-police brutality protests bring Lagos to standstill
Source: Agence France-Presse
Nigeria's anti-police brutality protests bring Lagos to standstill
Agence France-Presse in Lagos
Sat 17 Oct 2020 19.04 BST
More than 10,000 demonstrators flocked on to the streets of Nigeria’s capital city to join mounting protests against police brutality. Protesters clogged roads, bringing the centre of Lagos, the usually traffic-filled economic hub, to a standstill.
Many brandished the green-and-white Nigerian flag as they filled a major stretch of highway in the city of 20 million people.
Anger over abuses by the police’s notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) erupted into widespread demonstrations last week, forcing the government to scrap the unit. The crowds have continued to grow despite the announcement of a string of reforms from the rattled authorities. At least 10 people have died and dozens injured in the demonstrations, which have been met with force by police units.
The wave of protests is the biggest display of people power in years in Africa’s most populous nation as young people demand more sweeping changes. On Friday evening a huge crowd gathered at a tollgate that has become the centre of the protests in Lagos to hold a vigil for those killed by police. Demonstrators held their mobile phone torches aloft as they called for accountability after decades of widespread mistreatment by law enforcement.
-snip-
Agence France-Presse in Lagos
Sat 17 Oct 2020 19.04 BST
More than 10,000 demonstrators flocked on to the streets of Nigeria’s capital city to join mounting protests against police brutality. Protesters clogged roads, bringing the centre of Lagos, the usually traffic-filled economic hub, to a standstill.
Many brandished the green-and-white Nigerian flag as they filled a major stretch of highway in the city of 20 million people.
Anger over abuses by the police’s notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) erupted into widespread demonstrations last week, forcing the government to scrap the unit. The crowds have continued to grow despite the announcement of a string of reforms from the rattled authorities. At least 10 people have died and dozens injured in the demonstrations, which have been met with force by police units.
The wave of protests is the biggest display of people power in years in Africa’s most populous nation as young people demand more sweeping changes. On Friday evening a huge crowd gathered at a tollgate that has become the centre of the protests in Lagos to hold a vigil for those killed by police. Demonstrators held their mobile phone torches aloft as they called for accountability after decades of widespread mistreatment by law enforcement.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/17/nigerias-anti-police-brutality-protests-bring-lagos-to-standstill
______________________________________________________________________
Source: Associated Press
Nigeria's anti-police brutality protests block major roads
Sam Olukoya, The Associated Press
Published Saturday, October 17, 2020 2:00PM EDT
LAGOS, Nigeria - Nigerian protests against police brutality continued Friday for the ninth day, with demonstrators fending off attacks from gangs suspected to be backed by the police, warnings from the Nigerian military, and a government order to stop because of COVID-19.
In Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, protesters blocked the road to the international airport and the main highway into the city. The Lagos-Ibadan highway, one of Nigeria's busiest, is the main road linking the port city to the rest of Nigeria.
Protesters in the capital, Abuja, dedicated the day to Nigerians they charge have been killed by the police Special Anti Robbery Squad, known as SARS. The unit has killed and tortured many Nigerians, according to human rights groups.
Since the protests began more than a week ago, at least 10 people have been killed and hundreds injured, according to Amnesty International, which accuses the police of using excessive force against the demonstrators.
The #EndSARS campaign has attracted international support, including from supporters of Black Lives Matter in the U.S. and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey who has retweeted posts from Nigerian demonstrators.
-snip-
Sam Olukoya, The Associated Press
Published Saturday, October 17, 2020 2:00PM EDT
LAGOS, Nigeria - Nigerian protests against police brutality continued Friday for the ninth day, with demonstrators fending off attacks from gangs suspected to be backed by the police, warnings from the Nigerian military, and a government order to stop because of COVID-19.
In Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, protesters blocked the road to the international airport and the main highway into the city. The Lagos-Ibadan highway, one of Nigeria's busiest, is the main road linking the port city to the rest of Nigeria.
Protesters in the capital, Abuja, dedicated the day to Nigerians they charge have been killed by the police Special Anti Robbery Squad, known as SARS. The unit has killed and tortured many Nigerians, according to human rights groups.
Since the protests began more than a week ago, at least 10 people have been killed and hundreds injured, according to Amnesty International, which accuses the police of using excessive force against the demonstrators.
The #EndSARS campaign has attracted international support, including from supporters of Black Lives Matter in the U.S. and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey who has retweeted posts from Nigerian demonstrators.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.cp24.com/world/nigeria-s-anti-police-brutality-protests-block-major-roads-1.5149512
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