Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of not bringing to justice those involved in the Lekki tollgate shooting and attempting to cover up.
The campaign group says the authorities have continued to harass and intimidate protest organisers while police brutality continues to be reported.
“Nigerian authorities have failed to bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the brutal crackdown by security forces on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos in October 2020 and have brazenly attempted to cover up the violence,” said Amnesty International Nigeria today, 100 days on from the attack.
“Since the assault by security forces, which killed at least 12 people, Nigerian authorities have targeted supporters of the protests against police brutality by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Some of the movement’s supporters have had their bank accounts frozen.
“The bloody events of 20 October 2020, when Nigerian security forces killed at least 12 people during the violent dispersal of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at Lekki and Alausa, have cast a shadow over Nigerian society that lingers to this day.
“Instead of bringing suspected perpetrators to justice and prioritizing genuine police reforms, Nigerian authorities have been abusing their powers by subjecting those who supported the protests to intimidation, harassment, and smear campaigns.
“Those suspected to be responsible for the killings should be brought to justice in accordance with international fair trial standards.”
The rights group wants Nigerian authorities to implement full police reforms as promised during and after the protests.
“Amnesty International is concerned that the Nigerian authorities will continue their current ban on protests and reminds the government of its obligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international human rights treaties to – which the country is a state party – to allow those who gather peacefully to express their views without fear of arrest or intimidation,” read a statement in part.
The Lekki tollgate shooting of #EndSARS protesters who were demonstrating against police brutality is what prompted the creation of a panel that began sitting in October and for six months.
The panel has been reviewing police brutality petitions with an aim of bringing justice to victims.
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