Curfew imposed in Nigerian city Lagos after protests turned violent

Nigeria: Lagos was under lockdown on Wednesday as a massive police force imposed a round-the-clock curfew, moments after news surfaced of demonstrators being fired dead by security forces.

The state governor declared 30 people were wounded in the firing in the Lekki district of the financial capital on Tuesday evening.

Four witnesses asserted that security forces fired the bullets and at least two people were killed in this mashup. However, the Nigerian army declared on Twitter that no soldiers were present during the time of that shooting.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced 25 people were being healed for light to medium injuries, two were undergoing intensive care, and three injured people had been discharged from the hospital following Tuesday’s firing.

“I remember the buck stops at my table and I will work with the FG (federal government) to get to the root of this uncertain conflict and maintain all security regulations to preserve the lives of our citizens,” stated Sanwo-Olu.

Amnesty International said it had received “credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos” on Tuesday, adding that it was investigating “the killings”.

Another observer, Chika Dibia, stated soldiers hemmed in people as they fired at them.

The video confirmed by Reuters news agency affirmed men are strolling in a formation towards protestors, accompanied by trucks with flickering lights, and the noise of gunfire popping. Another video recorded the toll gate itself, with a demonstrator swinging a Nigerian flag, as people ran amid the sound of gunfire.

Thousands of Nigerians have protested nationwide every day for nearly two weeks against a particular police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), that rights groups had for years blamed of corruption, harassment, cruelty and murders.

Officials imposed the 24-hour curfew in Lagos on Tuesday after the state governor declared the demonstrations had turned violent.

On Wednesday, police had set up roadblocks as hurdles in the city and were not permitting vehicles to go through, although a few cars and people were wandering.