By Audrey Lotechukwu
MON, OCT 12 2020-theG&BJournal-One innocent bystander was shot dead Monday and several other peaceful protesters were injured by obviously angry police officers in Surulere, a suburb in Lagos, Nigeria.
The victim, eyewitnesses said was hit by a stray bullet fired by police officers who were shooting indiscriminately into the protesting crowd.
On the Lagos Island, over 20 youths were arrested, beaten and tortured before been dragged into the Oluwole Tinubu House police station. Some of the arrested victims- as witnessed by our reporter- were innocent hawkers or were unfortunately walking bye when they were apprehended.
Meanwhile, three protesters arrested in Abeokuta, Ogun State for peacefully protesting were arraigned before a Magistrate Court today charged with attempted murder.
Today’s protest is spill over from the huge Sunday protest which saw thousands of youths barricade the Lekki toll gate. The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had to scramble to the scene to help quell the protesters.
The Governor assured the protesters that there won’t be instances of police brutality in the State again and implored them to remain calm and respect the rights of other residents.
It was not certain what triggered the shooting today, but an eyewitness told our reporter that the officers were emboldened by the presence of the Area Commander who was at the scene of the protests.
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was disbanded across all the 36 States Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with immediate effect by The Inspector General Of Police (IGP) M.A Adamu on Sunday, following weeks of protests against alleged brutality of the citizens by members of SARS.
Organizers of the protest say they are continuing the protest despite the disbandment of SARS to demand total overhaul of law enforcement in the country as well total reform of the Nigerian Police Force.
|twitter:@theGBJournal|email: info@govandbusinessjournal.com.ng|
