According to reports, Amnesty International said late Tuesday there was “credible but disturbing evidence” that special forces shot dead at least a dozen protesters demonstrating against police brutality in Lagos, Nigeria.
Several videos circulating social media appear to capture audio of multiple rounds being fired. In a tweet from Amnesty International, the human rights NGO stated:
“While we continue to investigate the killings, Amnesty International wishes to remind the authorities that under international law, security forces may only resort to the use of lethal force when strictly unavoidable to protect against imminent threat of death or serious injury.”
The hashtag #EndSARS was initially created in 2017 during the first wave of protests calling for the disbanding of the anti-robbery squad, however, protests broke out a few weeks ago after a video captured officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS, brutally beating a man. This footage sparked nationwide protests as young demonstrators filled the streets under the familiar banner – #EndSARS.