Arrest of EndSARS memorial protesters unacceptable – Amnesty Int’l

Arrest of EndSARS memorial protesters unacceptable – Amnesty Int’l

A leading human rights group, Amnesty International, has condemned the arrest of protesters marking EndSARS anniversary at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.

In October 2020, some Nigerians, mostly youth, staged a protest against brutality by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police, calling on government to disband the unit.

Although the police authorities had succumbed to the demand and banned SARS, the protesters had continued with the demonstration for days, prompting the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to declare curfew and deploy security operatives to ensure compliance.

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The soldiers, in ensuring compliance with the curfew imposed in the state, opened fire on some persons, a situation that resulted in deaths, according to witnesses but authorities had denied the killings.

Since then, protesters gather every year to commemorate the incident.

On Sunday morning, which marked the 4th anniversary since the shooting happened, some protesters gathered at the tollgate, waving placards.

The operatives of the Nigeria police who were on ground at the time fired teargas and gunshots and arrested some of the protesters.

Reacting to the development in a post on X, the Amnesty International condemned the attack, saying use of teargas and the arrest of the protesters are unacceptable.

It said, “Amnesty International condemns the Nigeria police for the violent attack on people who assembled at Lekki Toll Gate to honour peaceful protesters killed during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in Oct. 2020. The reckless use of tear gas and arrests are unacceptable.”

Arrest of EndSARS memorial protesters unacceptable – Amnesty Int’l