International community calls for investigation into shooting of Nigerian protesters

Amnesty International says troops killed at least 12 peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza

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  A protester holds a flag stained with fake blood during a demonstration outside the Nigerian High Commission in London. AFP

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  Protesters gather in Parliament Square in London during a demonstration against police brutality in Lagos, Nigeria. AFP

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  Nigerians based in South Africa react to South African Police Service (SAPS) officers as they protest outside the Nigerian embassy in Pretoria. AFP

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  A Nigerian woman weeps as others comfort her during a protest outside their embassy in Pretoria. AFP

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  Nigerians living in Kenya hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), outside the Nigeria High Commission offices in Nairobi, Kenya. EPA

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  Protests against alleged brutal conduct of the SARS began in Nigeria earlier in October after a video reportedly showed personnel from the squad beating a man. EPA

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  A crowd of protesters barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest against police brutality and the killing of protesters by the military, at Magboro, Ogun State. AFP

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  Protesters chant and sing solidarity songs as they barricade barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. AFP

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  A protester waves a Nigerian national flag. AFP

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  protester raise the Nigerian national flag at a barricade mounted by potesters on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. AFP

World leaders have condemned the Nigerian military and have called for a transparent investigation into the shooting deaths of 12 peaceful protesters in Lagos on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses said security troops opened fire on more than 1,000 people in the economic capital on Tuesday evening to disperse the crowd after a curfew was imposed.

The restrictions were intended to end growing protests over police brutality and other social injustices.

Amnesty International said troops killed at least 12 peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza, after firing on them without warning. It called on authorities to investigate.

The Nigerian government did not immediately comment on Amnesty’s allegations, while the military has denied responsibility for the shootings.

President Muhammadu Buhari did not mention the Lekki shootings on Wednesday but called for calm and promised police reforms.

“There were so many cases and so many incidents, but these were the ones that Amnesty International could independently verify so the number could be much higher,” said Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty Nigeria.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence on Wednesday.

“I call for demonstrations to be peaceful and for an end to reported police brutality and abuses," Mr Guterres tweeted.

"Authorities must investigate these incidents and hold perpetrators accountable."

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet strongly condemned the use of excessive and disproportionate force by Nigerian troops in Lagos, the country’s most populous city, with more than 14 million people.

Ms Bachelet called on the Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to deal decisively with persistent breaches by the security forces, and work harder to bring police and army personnel guilty of crimes against civilians to justice.

“While the number of casualties of yesterday’s shooting at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos is still not clear, there is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition, by Nigerian armed forces,” she said.

“Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are even more disturbing as, if confirmed, they suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful protestors was premeditated, planned and co-ordinated.”

Ms Bachelet said Nigeria was “already at boiling point” due to years of violence including killings, rape, extortion and other breaches alleged to have been committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

“While the authorities have now dissolved Sars and announced a series of inquiries at federal and state levels, there have still been few if any charges levelled against its members, despite abundant evidence,” she said.

Many Nigerians are sceptical about police reforms that have been announced by authorities, and have been taking to the streets in several cities to protest since October 5.

Ms Bachelet said the way to restore trust and quell the unrest in Nigeria was for the authorities to take immediate steps to show they were committed to tackling impunity.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also condemned the attacks.

“I am deeply concerned by the recent violence and continued clashes in Nigeria and am alarmed by widespread reports of civilian deaths," Mr Raab said.

“We call for an end to violence. The Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports of brutality at the hands of the security forces and hold those responsible to account.”

Protests took place at Nigerian embassies around the world on Wednesday, including in Dublin, London and Washington.

US Senator Bob Menendez called for a transparent investigation into the actions of the military.

“I stand in solidarity with Nigerians who are peacefully calling for police reforms and an end to government corruption, and call on President Buhari to ensure security forces cease their violent crackdown on demonstrators," Mr Menendez said.

“Civilian control of the military is a hallmark of a true democracy and the eyes of the world are now on Nigeria and President Buhari.”