* Lagos state government to investigate shooting -spokesman
* Nigerians accuse police unit of brutality
* Millions placed under curfew in three states
(Adds Lagos governor comments, updates curfew states figure)
By Alexis Akwagyiram and Libby George
LAGOS, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Soldiers opened fire on Nigerians
protesting against police brutality in the Lekki district of the
commercial capital Lagos on Tuesday, and at least two people
were shot, four witnesses told Reuters.
Thousands of Nigerians have demonstrated https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27418O
nationwide every day for nearly two weeks against a police
unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), that rights groups
had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and
murders. The unit was disbanded on Oct. 11 but the protests have
persisted with demonstrators calling for a raft of law
enforcement reforms. "They started firing ammunition toward the crowd. They were
firing into the crowd," said Alfred Ononugbo, 55, a security
officer after the soldiers opened fire. "I saw the bullet hit
one or two persons," he said.
The condition of those two people was not immediately known.
Amnesty International has said at least 15 people had been
killed since the protests began.
In a Twitter post, the Nigerian Army said no soldiers were
at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night in Lekki, an
upmarket district where the toll gate has been the site of daily
protests in Lagos, Africa's biggest city.
Lagos State Goveror Babajide Sanwo-Olu tweeted pictures of
him visiting people in hospital who were victims of what he
referred to as the "unfortunate shooting incident at Lekki".
He said 25 people were being treated for mild to moderate
injuries, two were receiving intensive care and three had been
discharged.
"As the Governor of our state, 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," said
Sanwo-Olu, adding that he would give a state broadcast on
Wednesday morning.
The Lagos state government earlier said it would open an
investigation into the shooting, which witnesses said began at
about 7 p.m. (1800 GMT).
A Nigerian army spokesman did not immediately respond to
requests for comment.
Inyene Akpan, 26, a photographer, said more than 20 soldiers
arrived at the toll gate in Lekki and opened fire. He said he
saw two people being shot.
Akinbosola Ogunsanya, a third witness, said he saw around 10
people being shot. Ogunsanya, who said lights went out shortly
before the soldiers arrived, also said he saw soldiers remove
bodies.
Another witness, Chika Dibia, said soldiers hemmed in people
as they shot at them.
Video verified by Reuters showed men walking slowly in
formation toward demonstrators, followed by trucks with flashing
lights, and the sound of gunfire popping. Another video showed
the toll gate itself, with a protester waving a Nigerian flag,
as people ran amid the sounds of gunfire.
A Reuters witness heard sirens and gunfire.
DEFENCE MEETING
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday held scheduled talks
with the defence minister and the chief of defence staff around
6:15 p.m. (1715 GMT) to discuss national security, two
presidency officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
A spokesman for the president did not immediately respond to
requests for comment.
The Nigerian army was due to begin a two-month national
exercise on Tuesday. When the move was announced on Saturday, it
denied the move was part of a security response to the
demonstrations. Days earlier, the military said it was prepared
to help maintain law and order.
The weeks-long protests were sparked by a video that began
circulating in early October purportedly showing SARS https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2711TK
officers shooting a man in southern Delta state. Police denied
the shooting.
Authorities on Tuesday imposed a round-the-clock curfew on
Lagos as the state governor said protests had turned violent.
It is one of five of Nigeria's 36 states to have announced
such measures in the last two days. The national police chief
also ordered the immediate deployment of anti-riot forces
nationwide following increased attacks on police facilities, a
police spokesman said.
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FACTBOX-Why are Nigerians protesting against police brutality?
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