News

Nigeria: Two Killed In Protest Against Police Brutality

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:20 am

Two people were killed in Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta state as protestors against police brutality took to the streets in several Nigerian cities on Friday.

One protestor and one police officer were killed while another sustained life-threatening injuries during a protest in the southern town of Ughelli, Hafiz Inuwa, Delta State Commissioner of Police told AFP, adding that nine suspects had been arrested.

Hundreds of protestors gathered peacefully in the economic hub Lagos, but in the capital Abuja, the crowd was met with teargas according to one of the organisers.

“Our members were close to 200 in the protest. We were teargased,” said human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju.

“It’s just sad that they are clamping down on peaceful civil protest.”

Anger has been brewing on social media after a video went viral showing the alleged killing of a man by a police officer in Delta state –a video that authorities denied was real.

The man who filmed the video was arrested, provoking even more anger.

Nigeria’s vice president denounced police violence when asked about the issue by reporters.

“I’m very concerned, in fact, very angry about what I see, happening to young men and women who are arrested, in some cases maimed or killed by men of the police force,” Yemi Osinbajo said.

The movement initially targeted the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), widely accused of unlawful arrests, torture and even murder, but has since broadened to include all police forces.

While the SARS unit was suspended on Sunday, groups such as Amnesty International said the government had not gone far enough, pointing to previous unsuccesful attempts to ban the force.

The hashtag #EndSARS was the most trending topic on Twitter on Friday.

“There’s a lot more people than yesterday. The movement is growing,” 29-year-old Chinoso Esengba, a doctor participating in Friday’s protest, said.

“This problem affects us all; we all risk being tortured, arrested, extorted for no good reason,” he added.

(AFP)

Albert Echetah

Recent Posts

Africa and GCC Trade Doubles to $121 Billion

Trade between African and GCC countries stands at $ 121 billion in 2023, double of what it was in 2016.…

December 21, 2024

Families in Mayotte rebuilding their homes complain of lack of help

Family members struggling after one week after  of Cyclone Chido ripped through the French island territory of Mayotte expressed helplessness…

December 21, 2024

Ethiopian PM Inaugurates UAE-Funded Orphanage in Oromia

The United Arab Emirates has launched its orphanage project in Ethiopia's Oromia region on the orders of President Sheikh Mohamed…

December 21, 2024

A Rising Femicide Threat, Kenya’s Call to End Gender Based Violence

In just four months, 100 women have been killed, the majority by males they knew including spouses. Prime Cabinet Secretary…

December 20, 2024

Actor C Confion has passed away

The Ghanaian entertainment industry is in deep mourning following the sudden death of Bright Owusu, better known as C Confion.…

December 20, 2024

South Africa: 512 Accident Deaths and 941 Arrested for Drunk Driving Just on December Month

Since the beginning of December more than five hundred people have lost their lives on the nation's highways. Barbara Creecy,…

December 19, 2024

This website uses cookies.