
<p>After two weeks of massive demonstrations against police brutality brought Nigeria’s financial hub, Lagos, to a virtual standstill, government security forces using live ammunition opened fire Tuesday on hundreds of protestors rallying against a government-mandated 24-hour curfew.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h4>



<p>At least seven people were killed during the melee, according to a&nbsp;<em>Guardian</em>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/20/nigeria-protests-lead-to-24-hour-lagos-curfew" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;citing a popular African disc jockey, DJ Switch, who was live-streaming the demonstration on Instagram.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/10/21/nigerian-security-forces-open-fire-on-protesters-in-lagos-24-hour-statewide-curfew-imposed/#25fb23a52360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Also read: <strong>Nigerian Security Forces Open Fire On Protesters In Lagos, 24-Hour Statewide Curfew Imposed</strong></a></p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48560" width="400" height="267" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /><figcaption>(Photo by BENSON IBEABUCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<p>The protests began on October 7 with calls to disband an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/20/end-sars-24-hour-curfew-imposed-in-lagos-as-protests-continue#:~:text=Nationwide%20protests%20have%20continued%20since,(SARS)%2C%20which%20has%20long" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infamous police unit</a>&nbsp;that had long been accused of extortion, torture and extra-juditial killings, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).</p>



<p>SARS was dissolved on October 11, but quickly replaced by the Special Weapons and Tactics team, and demonstrations continued, only to be met with “<a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/nigeria-authorities-must-initiate-genuine-reform-of-the-police/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">excessive force</a>” by government security forces, according to Amnesty International, including the use of tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition against protesters.</p>



<p>Almost 2,000 prison inmates escaped after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-police-police-brutality-lagos-robbery-1dabdf270ca2f6937b0ddc49fa0ad84f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crowds</a>&nbsp;stormed two prisons Monday in Benin City in southern Nigeria, according the Associated Press.</p>



<p>On Tuesday, state officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/lagos-imposes-indefinite-curfew-curb-nigeria-protests-police-deploy-anti-n1244030" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deployed</a>&nbsp;anti-riot forces to protect police and correctional facilities which some demonstrators had begun targeting, and announced a nationwide 24-hour curfew in response to the unrest.</p>



<p>At least 15 people have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/nigeria-authorities-must-initiate-genuine-reform-of-the-police/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">died</a>&nbsp;during the demonstrations, according to Amnesty International.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



<p>What began as mostly peaceful protests have turned increasingly violent in recent days. Groups of armed young men who are reportedly being paid to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/20/nigeria-protests-lead-to-24-hour-lagos-curfew" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discredit</a>&nbsp;the anti-police movement by powerful interests in Nigeria have allegedly been attacking the demonstrators, fueling the unrest, and provoking the government&#8217;s response. Tens of thousands of people have joined in the demonstrations across the country, but as they grow more violent, government security forces have responded in kind. The Nigerian Army said it was standing by in case “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/15/army-standby-police-brutality-protests-nigeria" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subversive</a>&nbsp;elements and troublemakers” continue to cause problems for the police.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h4>



<p><strong>21 Million.</strong>&nbsp;That’s how many people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfr.org/blog/home-over-half-population-nigerias-cities-continue-boom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">live</a>&nbsp;in the state of Lagos, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, all of whom are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/lagos-imposes-indefinite-curfew-curb-nigeria-protests-police-deploy-anti-n1244030" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supposed</a>&nbsp;to adhere to the curfew. That’s more people than live in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



<p>I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/jidesanwoolu/status/1318504576937578497?s=20" target="_blank">monster</a> that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state.” said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48564" width="615" height="410" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px" /><figcaption> People protest against recent violence at demonstrations in Nigeria on October 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48562" width="628" height="418" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /><figcaption>Protestors attend a demonstration outside the Nigerian High Commission against police brutality in Lagos in London on October 21, 2020. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48563" width="646" height="430" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px" /><figcaption>Activists protesting police brutality by the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) march along Whitehall in London, England, on October 21, 2020. (Photo by David Cliff/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48561" width="637" height="424" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" /><figcaption>Nigerians based in South Africa protest outside their embassy in Pretoria on October 21, 2020 in solidarity with Nigerian youth. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h4>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-police-police-brutality-lagos-robbery-1dabdf270ca2f6937b0ddc49fa0ad84f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nearly 2,000 inmates escape in attacks on Nigeria prisons</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/20/end-sars-24-hour-curfew-imposed-in-lagos-as-protests-continue#:~:text=Nationwide%20protests%20have%20continued%20since,(SARS)%2C%20which%20has%20long" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nigeria deploying anti-riot police as curfew imposed in Lagos</a>&nbsp;(Al Jazzera)</p>



<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/17/nigerias-anti-police-brutality-protests-bring-lagos-to-standstill" target="_blank">Nigeria&#8217;s anti-police brutality protests bring Lagos to standstill</a>&nbsp;(The Guardian)</p>



<p>&#8211;<em>by Daniel Cassady, Forbes Staff</em></p>


Tag: Special Anti-Robbery Squad

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

Here’s Why Thousands Of Nigerians Are Protesting In Lagos