As demands for accountability in Lagos grows, a judicial panel investigating the recent shooting of unarmed protesters in the city and police brutality has convened for the first time on Monday. Since the shooting, the formation of an independent body to probe the investigation and persecution of all the reported cases of police misconduct has remained one of the major demands of the protesters.
Nearly three weeks ago, with protesters calling to end the now-disbanded police unit. Even though President Buhari’s government has ordered to disband the police unit, demonstrators are still on the streets calling on the administration for further reforms in the way the African country is governed.
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The situation in the country’s financial hub worsened after the soldiers’ shooting on October 22 at the toll gate Lekki. International news agencies reported that soldiers first barricaded the area and then started shooting at the demonstrators. However, the Nigerian army has categorically denied any involvement and promised an inquiry into the incident.
Despite the denial from the army, Amnesty International said that nearly 12 people were shot dead by soldiers with dozens injured. According to the local media reports, the panel, which has a six-month mandate has so far received nearly 15 complaints, and all of them are unrelated to the shooting at Lekki.
Furthermore, the state authorities in five other states have also taken similar steps to address the te growing concern among the general public. Meanwhile, other states have also indicated such steps to investigate police brutality.
On Sunday, President Buhari took to social media and said that he is confident that the state panels will help ensure justice on behalf of the security agency agents and peaceful protesters across the country. Since the protests first began, nearly 51 civilians, 11 policemen, and seven soldiers have been killed, Buhari added.
When the Protests in Nigeria Started?
On October 8, after a video showing a SARS officer killing an unarmed man was widely shared on social media. Three days later, the government announced that it is now disbanding the SARS unit, and its troops will be posted in other police units. However, the announcement failed to appease the demonstrators, leading many to call for a complete overhaul of law enforcement.
But as the protests spread in the major cities across Nigeria, the gangs unleashed the violence that saw vehicles burnt, demonstrators attacked, public buildings damaged, and private businesses looted. The unrest prompted the state authorities to impose an around-the-clock curfew aimed at curbing the violence. Amnesty International has confirmed that as of Monday, as many as 57 people have killed.
