Nigeria: Police use of lethal force against demonstrators must be investigated, says amnesty
Amnesty International is urging Nigerian authorities to launch an independent public inquiry into the death of at least four people reported to have been killed in Lagos in clashes involving the police and civilians during demonstrations against an increase in the price of fuel. More than seven days after the people were announced dead, no investigation has been carried out.
News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International
AI INDEX: AFR 44/021/2003 15 July 2003
Nigeria: Police use of lethal force against demonstrators must be
investigated
Amnesty International is urging Nigerian authorities to launch an
independent public inquiry into the death of at least four people reported
to have been killed in Lagos in clashes involving the police and civilians
during demonstrations against an increase in the price of fuel. More than
seven days after the people were announced dead, no investigation has been
carried out.
A 27 year-old man, Obot Akpan Etim was among the people shot dead in what
appeared to be a peaceful protest. In statements made on 7 July 2003, the
police commissioner and the public relations officer of Lagos denied any
wrongdoing by the police. They rather accused other demonstrators of
fomenting the killing.
A 25-year-old woman who witnessed the police brutality told Amnesty
International how, on her way to work on that Monday 7 morning, in Oshodi,
a suburb of Lagos, she got caught up in the events which took place that
day. "I could see hundreds of people who were peacefully protesting in the
street. They were chanting and shouting slogans. Suddenly and without
warning, the police charged at us, throwing teargas in our direction. In
the confusion, people were running in all directions; some were falling
down. I lost consciousness for a while. When I woke up, I noticed that the
explosions had affected my voice."
In a report published in December 2002 (view the full report online at
http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabfZnaaZcJFbb0iygb/ ), Amnesty
International expressed its concerns about the police brutality in the
three years following the return to civilian rule in Nigeria. The police
attempts to curb crime has been marred by the deaths of hundreds of
people. Police violence sometimes appears to have been unleashed amid
government complacency.
"The government should ensure that law enforcement officers do not exert
any excessive use of lethal force in peaceful demonstrations," Amnesty
International said.
Wherever a person sustains injuries or dies as a result of public unrest,
especially when police or security forces are involved, there should be an
immediate investigation.
"People should not be shot at for protesting peacefully and all those
found responsible for such violations must be investigated and brought to
justice according to international standards of fair trial," the
organization said.
Background
A wave of protests led by the National Labour Congress (NLC) swept through
many Nigerian towns, including Abuja and Lagos, following the government's
decision in June 2003 to dramatically increase the price of fuel. The
strikes which took place from 30 June to 9 July resulted in an excessive
use of force by the police. They reportedly used live ammunition and tear
gas against peaceful demonstrators in their attempt to end the strikes.
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