More Nigerian protests against police brutality as reforms fail to convince

By Temilade Adelaja and Alexis Akwagyiram
LAGOS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Nigerian protesters demanding an
end to police brutality returned to the streets on Wednesday,
saying they were unconvinced by the creation of a new police
unit and a pledge not to use violence against demonstrators.
Protesters have staged daily marches nationwide for a week
calling for an overhaul of police forces. Police have responded
to the demonstrations with beatings, tear gas and gunfire, which
human rights group Amnesty International said had killed at
least 10 people.
The protests have prompted a raft of announcements. The
Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit that
demonstrators have long accused of beatings, killings and
extortion, was officially disbanded on Sunday.
On Tuesday, police agreed to stop using force against
protesters. They also announced the formation of a new unit, the
Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT), to "fill the gaps" left
by the disbanded SARS. But protesters said on Wednesday they feared the new unit
will simply be a rebranded version of SARS.
Hundreds gathered in the capital Abuja and megacity Lagos on
Wednesday to continue their calls for police reforms.
Many demonstrators in Lagos, who gathered despite heavy
rain, were singing, dancing and chanting, a Reuters witness
said. Many held placards, including one that read "Stop killing
our dreamers. #EndSARS now".
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on
Wednesday, urged protesters to wind down demonstrations, stating
that the gridlock caused in recent days had disrupted businesses
still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.
"People are just coming back to businesses. It would be
unfair for those businesses not to be able to get back on their
feet again," he said. Protesters "should know that their voice
has been heard" and "let government play their roles", he added.