Campaign group Amnesty International says more than 40 protesters arrested during the anti-police brutality demonstrations in Nigeria two years ago are still locked up in various prisons across the country.
In a statement marking the second anniversary of the protests on Thursday, Amnesty says panels set up by the authorities to investigate rights abuses by the police have “failed to deliver justice to hundreds of victims”.
While dozens are “still languishing” in prisons, some of the arrested protesters said they were tortured while in detention and released without charge, Amnesty says.
Human rights violations by police officers have continued in the country after the End Sars protests, the rights group continued.
The protests in October 2020 swept through Nigeria, with security forces opening fire on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in the country’s commercial hub, Lagos.
Amnesty said the Nigerian army killed at least 12 people at Lekki toll Gate and in the Alausa district.
The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly denied claims that security forces had perpetrated a “massacre”.
The protests forced the government to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian police (Sars) – which was the catalyst for the demonstrations.
Its officers were accused of gross human rights violations including torture, illegal detention and extortion.
The reports of several committees set up by state authorities to investigate allegations of brutality by the police have yet to be implemented.
But some victims of police brutality had been given compensation following investigations by a panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission – while several senior officers had been recommended for dismissal and prosecution.
Source: BBC