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.”
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Cameron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Worthington%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Sigourney%20Weaver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
India squad for fourth and fifth Tests
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari
SPEC%20SHEET
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Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.