ABUJA — Amnesty International (AI) has accused Nigeria authorities of brazenly trying to cover the violence launched on #EndSARS protesters rather than bringing the culprit to book.
The human rights organization demanded the suspension of officials indicted in the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki, Lagos state.
Last year, Nigerian youths had converged to demand an end to bad governance, police brutality, and the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the police force with a long record of abuses. However, the demonstration was abruptly halted after the army opened fire at Lekki tollgate where the protesters converged leaving at least 12 persons dead.
The Nigerian army later said it deployed soldiers to quell the peaceful protest following a request by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 100 days after the Lekki shooting, AI said there is no justice yet for the 12 persons it earlier said were killed in the incident and in a related one in Alausa, Lagos.
“Nigerian authorities have failed to bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the brutal crackdown by security forces on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020 and have brazenly attempted to cover up the violence.
“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 Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Some of the movement’s supporters have had their bank accounts frozen.
“The bloody events of 20 October 2020, when Nigerian security forces killed at least 12 people during the violent dispersal of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki and Alausa, have cast a shadow over Nigerian society that lingers to this day.
“Instead of bringing suspected perpetrators to justice and prioritizing genuine police reforms, Nigerian authorities have been abusing their powers by subjecting those who supported the protests to intimidation, harassment and smear campaigns.
“Those suspected to be responsible for the killings should be brought to justice in accordance with international fair trial standards,” Ojigho said.
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