TheCable

Amnesty International, human rights watchdog group, says at least 12 #EndSARS protesters were killed in Lagos on Tuesday.

In a statemen on Wednesday, the organisation said its  investigation showed that the victims were killed in Lekki and Alausa.

The protest grounds in Lekki and Alausa are major convergence point of #EndSARS protesters in Lagos.

TheCable had reported how security operatives opened fire on protesters at Lekki toll gate.

Before the shooting incident, the protesters had been at the location for 13 straight days.

“An on-the-ground investigation by Amnesty International has confirmed that the Nigerian army and police killed at least 12 peaceful protesters yesterday at two locations in Lagos. The killings took place in Lekki and Alausa, where thousands were protesting police brutality as part of the #EndSars movement,” read the statement signed by Isa Sanusi, spokesman of the organisation.

“Evidence gathered from eyewitnesses, video footage and hospital reports confirm that between 6:45pm and 9:00pm on Tuesday 20 October, the Nigerian military opened fire on thousands of people who were peacefully calling for good governance and an end to police brutality.

“Witnesses at the Lekki protest grounds told Amnesty international that solders arrived at about 6:45pm local time on Tuesday evening, and opened fire on #EndSars protesters without warning. Eyewitnesses at Alausa protest ground said they were attacked by a team of soldiers and policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Unit at about 8:00 pm, leaving at least two people dead and one critically injured.”

Sanusi quoted Osai Ojigho, country director of the watchdog group, as saying: “Opening fire on peaceful protesters is a blatant violation of people’s rights to life, dignity, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Soldiers clearly had one intention – to kill without consequences,” said Amnesty International Nigeria.”

The statement said Amnesty International has been monitoring developments across Nigeria since the #EndSARS protest began on October 8, 2020.

It said at least 56 people have died across the country since the protest began, with about 38 killed on Tuesday alone.