Policemen arrested for attacking Nigeria protesters

The authorities in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, have arrested police officers who attacked protesters on Monday in ongoing demonstrations against police brutality.

Local media outlets report that the four policemen had fired live ammunition at protesters in the city's Surulere area.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, named the four policemen who he said were facing a disciplinary trial.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also said that the state had established a 200m Nigerian naira ($521,000; £404,000) fund to compensate victims of police brutality.

The federal government has banned protests in the capital Abuja, citing public safety measures to tackle Covid-19.

Demonstrations against police brutality have taken place in cities across Nigeria in the past week. The protests have continued despite authorities agreeing to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).

The unit has been accused of extrajudicial killings, extortion and torture, especially of young people.

What was my crime again? I was protesting against police brutality and I got brutalised for it . #EndSARS #EndSWAT #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria pic.twitter.com/AboZeuzx8m

— #SARSMUSTEND #SARSMUSTEND . ????????(Ònye Isuikwuato) (@Thickerbody_08) October 14, 2020