AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Fresh unrest rocked Nigeria's biggest city Lagos and a prison was set ablaze on Thursday after the shooting of protesters that drew international outrage.
Gunfire was heard and smoke could be seen billowing from the detention facility in the upscale Ikoyi neighbourhood in central Lagos, an AFP journalist said.
Police said assailants had attacked the site on the second day of violence in the city of 20 million people after a brutal crackdown by security forces on demonstrations.
Amnesty International said Nigerian soldiers and police gunned down 12 peaceful protesters on Tuesday, while 56 have died overall across the country since demonstrations against police abuse and bad governance began on October 8.
"Those involved should be held to account in accordance with Nigerian law," he added.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who has not yet commented on the shooting, was holding a national security council meeting on Thursday with his defence minister and chief of police, according to a statement.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said his "heart goes out" to the victims of the shooting as well as policemen and others who have lost their lives in several days of turmoil in Africa's most populous country.
"The pain of these terrible events is palpable in our towns and cities, and some losses are irreplaceable, but we can and will get justice for all of them," a statement said.
Nigeria's army has dismissed as "fake news" reports that soldiers opened fire on demonstrators.
Police Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi claimed that troops were not ordered to open fire on protesters.
"I cannot say who is involved in the shooting... definitely not the police. Soldiers have already spoken about this, they are denying their involvement," he said.
The governor of Lagos announced a round-the-clock curfew and a pause on state activities until Friday.
Soldiers patrolled the largely deserted streets of the city on Thursday a day after buildings including police stations, a TV channel and the port were torched.
Demonstrations erupted two weeks ago in Nigeria over brutality by the police's loathed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The unit was disbanded but protests quickly spiralled into broader demands for change as promises of reform failed to stem the anger and violence flared.
The African Union on Thursday strongly condemned the violence and called on all parties to "privilege dialogue".
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source : Hausa TV
Saturday
24 October 2020
9:55:32 AM
1080567
Fresh unrest rocked Nigeria's biggest city Lagos and a prison was set ablaze on Thursday after the shooting of protesters that drew international outrage.