Rights groups, activists in Nigeria blast police tactics against 'End SARS' memorial participants

Abuja, Nigeria — 

Human rights groups and activists successful Nigeria are condemning constabulary tactics utilized to disperse protesters who had gathered to grant those killed during a 2020 objection against constabulary brutality. Witnesses accidental constabulary bushed and fired teardrop state astatine protesters Sunday arsenic they tried to stitchery astatine the Lekki toll gross successful Lagos, tract of the killings 4 years ago.

Nigerian caregiver Abiodun Thomas is reeling from the injuries inflicted connected her limb and backmost by Nigerian constabulary agents connected Sunday.

She was 1 of galore activists holding a procession adjacent the Lekki toll gross successful Lagos to retrieve the fatal shooting of protesters astatine the tract 4 years ago.

She said constabulary manhandled her, bushed her, and arrested her on with 21 others.

"As we were marching towards the toll gross policemen approached us, they changeable into the air, past each of a abrupt they started firing canisters of teargas, that's erstwhile we started moving and they gave america a precise blistery chase. I was apprehended and they started beating me. They deed maine with the bottommost of their guns 3 times connected my close leg, 1 of the constabulary officers slapped maine twice," she said.

A constabulary spokesperson said connected X that they had released each the protesters successful constabulary custody, without commenting connected the behaviour of the officers.

On the nighttime of October 20, 2020, soldiers killed astatine slightest 12 protesters astatine the toll gross according to Amnesty International.

The protesters were among thousands of Nigerian youths who had taken to the streets for 2 weeks to request the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) constabulary unit.

The protests dubbed 'End SARS' was the astir monolithic successful Nigeria's caller past and soon expanded to telephone for amended governance.

Thomas said since the tragic incident, each twelvemonth activists effort to clasp a memorial to grant the slain protesters.

"Our volition was to spell there, sing songs, enactment down flowers and marque request that the authorities should sanction that Lekki toll gross 'End SARS' autobus halt to service arsenic a memorial for those heroes, and afterwards person drinks unneurotic and past spell home," she said.

The Lagos State constabulary authorities accidental protesters connected Sunday flouted an bid banning protests successful the country but with the cognition of authorities authorities.

But rights groups including Amnesty International are criticizing the police.

Isa Sanusi is Amnesty International's caput successful Nigeria.

"Saying that they request a licence from the constabulary to signifier a protestation is conscionable a bizarre and unlawful requirement, it's truly unfortunate it's a renewed battle connected quality rights and the regularisation of law," helium said.

Sanusi said constabulary brutality remains a occupation and that the government's much caller attempts to clamp down connected escaped code are lone making matters worse.

"Nothing has changed astir the government's cognition towards peaceful protests by citizens. We are truly concerned, what we're witnessing is the emergence of a caller signifier of clampdown connected civic rights, particularly utilizing information agencies to deprive radical of their rights, and this is unacceptable," helium said.

Unless thing changes, the 'End SARS' day volition stay a stark reminder of a conflict to extremity constabulary brutality successful Nigeria for good.