UPDATE 2-Nigeria's police to stop using force against protesters - presidency

(Adds creation of new SWAT unit)
By Tife Owolabi and Felix Onuah
YENAGOA/ABUJA, Nigeria Oct 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's police
have agreed to stop using force against protesters, the
presidency said on Tuesday, a day after law enforcement agents
shot live fire at demonstrators in Lagos where an official said
two people were killed.
Demonstrators have been calling for almost a week for law
enforcement to halt the use of force against them, but marches
demanding the end of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)
police unit have been met with beatings, tear gas and gunfire.
Protesters continued to demand a police overhaul despite
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday vowing "extensive police
reforms". On Sunday authorities said SARS would be disbanded,
but protesters say similar promises have been made before to no
effect.
For years, Nigerians have accused SARS of beatings, killings
and extorting money.
Police announced on Tuesday a new unit, the Special Weapons
and Tactics team (SWAT), to "fill the gaps" left by SARS. The
statement also ordered SARS officers to report to Abuja for
tests, training and counselling before redeployment. L8N2H45M2
Some Nigerians said on Twitter the move confirmed fears that
police would simply recreate SARS under a new name. Less than an
hour after the statement, protesters posted the news with the
hashtag #EndSWAT.
A presidency statement said Nigeria's National Human Rights
Commission would set up a panel within a week to investigate
alleged human rights violations by SARS and other police units.
Hundreds attended a protest march on Tuesday in the southern
oil city of Port Harcourt, defying Rivers State Governor Nyesom
Wike who said such demonstrations were "prohibited".
The governor's spokesman did not immediately respond to a
request for comment after the march.
Protests also took place in parts of Lagos on Tuesday, a day
after police in the megacity opened fire with live ammunition
against demonstrators.
Lagos police did not comment on whether officers fired live
rounds, but said "unscrupulous elements" among protesters had
killed a bystander and a police officer.