* Amnesty says 12 protesters killed in Lagos on Tuesday
* Nigerians accuse police unit of brutality
* Millions placed under curfew in three states
* President Buhari appeals for calm over police reforms
(Adds UNHCR, African Union, Nigerian vice president comments)
By Angela Ukomadu, Alexis Akwagyiram and Libby George
LAGOS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Nigeria's biggest city Lagos and
several states were under curfews on Wednesday as unrest rooted
in anti-police protests broke out again following a day of
violence, including the shooting of civilians by security
forces.
Fires burned across Lagos and residents reported hearing
gunfire despite President Muhammadu Buhari's appeal for
"understanding and calm".
Armed police tried to enforce a round-the-clock curfew in
the commercial capital, setting up checkpoints. But groups of
young men blocked a number of major roads with overturned
traffic signs, tree branches and rocks. Smoke billowed from
buildings that were ablaze.
Video verified by Reuters showed armed police in the Yaba
area of Lagos kicking a man as he lay on the ground. One officer
fired into his back and dragged his limp body down the street.
Images taken afterwards showed crowds gathering, thick black
smoke from burning tyres and more police officers with guns
drawn and pointed.
Rights group Amnesty International said the Nigerian army
and police killed at least 12 peaceful protesters at two
locations in Lagos - Lekki and Alausa - on Tuesday.
At least 56 people have died across Nigeria since nationwide
protests began on Oct. 8, with about 38 killed on Tuesday alone,
Amnesty said.
A Lagos police spokesman said via WhatsApp that he was "not
aware of any such allegation" regarding the man who was kicked
and shot, and said that there were no killings in Alausa, which
he said is "a very peaceful place."
Thousands of Nigerians, many driven closer to poverty by the
economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, have joined the
protests that initially focused on a police unit, the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The unit - which rights groups have long accused of
extortion, harassment, torture and murder - was disbanded on
Oct. 11 but the protests have persisted with calls for more law
enforcement reforms.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed the curfew on Lagos on
Tuesday.
But a shooting on Tuesday night at a toll gate in the Lagos
district of Lekki, where people had gathered in defiance of the
curfew, appeared to mark the worst violence since the protests
began and drew international concern over the situation in
Africa's most populous country, a major oil producer.
UNHCR CONDEMNS SHOOTINGS
"There is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use
of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition,
by Nigerian armed forces," United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday.
The African Union Commission's chairman said he "strongly
condemns the violence".
And the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
urged Nigerian security forces to exercise restraint in handling
protests and to act professionally.
Sanwo-Olu said 30 people were hurt in the shooting. Four
witnesses said soldiers had fired bullets and at least two
people had been shot at the toll gate. Three witnesses said the
gate's lights were turned off before the shooting began. One
said he saw soldiers remove bodies. The Nigerian Army said no soldiers were at the scene.
Inyene Akpan, 26, a photographer, said more than 20 soldiers
arrived and opened fire as they approached the protesters.
Witness Akinbosola Ogunsanya said the lights suddenly went
out around 6:45 P.M. (1745 GMT) and men came beforehand to take
down CCTV cameras. Minutes later, soldiers in uniform walked
towards the crowd, shooting as they walked, he said. He saw
about 10 people being shot and soldiers removing bodies, he
said.
Another witness, Chika Dibia, said soldiers hemmed in people
as they shot at them.
Henry Kufre, a television producer, said the atmosphere had
been peaceful and people were singing the national anthem before
the site was plunged into darkness and the shooting began.
COMMITTED TO JUSTICE
Buhari said on Wednesday he was committed to providing
justice for victims of brutality, and that the police reforms
demanded by the demonstrators were gathering pace. He did not
refer to the shooting at the toll gate.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo late on Wednesday on Twitter
expressed sympathy for victims of the Lekki shootings and others
who have died in recent days. "We can and will get justice for
all of them," he tweeted.
Earlier, Sanwo-Olu said 25 people were being treated for
injuries and two were in intensive care.
"I recognise the buck stops at my table and I will work with
the FG (federal government) to get to the root of this
unfortunate incident and stabilise all security operations to
protect the lives of our residents," Sanwo-Olu said.
Unrest also gripped other parts of southern Nigeria. Among
states imposing restrictions was the oil production hub of
Rivers State, including a curfew in parts of oil city Port
Harcourt. Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike said criminals attacked and
destroyed police stations and court buildings in parts of the
state. In South Africa, hundreds of Nigerians carrying placards
demanding "a new and better Nigeria" marched to the Nigerian
High Commission (embassy) in Pretoria. Protesters also rallied
outside the Nigerian embassy in London.
Nigeria sovereign Eurobonds fell more than 2 cents on the
dollar on Wednesday. One analyst said the protests might trigger
a resumption of attacks on oil facilities, potentially hitting
its main source of foreign earnings.
"The Niger Delta militants ... have reportedly shown support
for the (protest) movement. Should the protests escalate, we
could see attacks resume on the oil and gas facilities," said
Janet Ogunkoya, senior research analyst at Tellimer Research.