Amnesty International on Thursday accused the Nigerian government of trying to cover up the killing of a dozen citizens during peaceful protests in Lagos last October, reported Africa News.
“Those suspected to be responsible for the killings should be brought to justice in accordance with international fair trial standards,” Amnesty International Nigeria Director Osai Ojigho said in the statement, released to mark 100 days since the shootings.
The youth began protests across the country against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over its brutality last year in October. The protests soon turned violent after security forces shot at demonstrators in Lagos killing at least 12 people, according to the rights group.
At a judicial panel, the army denied using live rounds but the government promised to disband the controversial police unit.
Amnesty International claims that the authorities have continued to harass and intimidate protest organizers while police brutality continues to be reported.
“Since the assault by security forces, which killed at least 12 people, Nigerian authorities have targeted supporters of the protests against police brutality by the disbanded SARS,” Ojigho said.
The International rights group claim that Nigerian authorities have failed to bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the brutal crackdown by security forces on peaceful protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020 and have attempted to cover up the violence.
She said the government has even frozen bank accounts of some of the movement’s supporters.
The London-based rights body challenged the Nigerian government to suspend all the accused officials, pending investigations, and to ensure justice to the victims.
In November, the government set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the incident and wider allegations of abuses by SARS. The government has promised a number of reforms in response to the protests, and disbanded SARS, replacing it with Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) forces.
