After protests against police violence in Nigeria: curfew in Lagos

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People in Lagos demonstrate against police violence

Photo: TEMILADE ADELAJA / REUTERS

After almost two weeks of protests against excessive police violence in Nigeria, the authorities imposed a 24-hour curfew on Tuesday in the metropolis of Lagos.

The governor of the state of the same name, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, justified the measure, which will apply to the entire province from 4 p.m. (local time), with the fight against increasing anarchy.

In the largest city of the West African state, criminals would wreak havoc under the protesters' protection, he said.

It had previously become known that a police station had been burned down.

Regional police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi reported several officers injured and possibly one dead.

According to an unconfirmed report in the newspaper "Punch", two demonstrators were also shot in the incident, according to the dpa news agency.

According to the Reuters news agency, soldiers reportedly shot at the demonstrators in the evening.

This was reported by eyewitnesses.

Important connecting roads were temporarily closed.

According to the authorities, police units have been stationed across the country to fight the riots.

A curfew was also imposed in Edo state after protesters broke into a prison in the city of Benin.

According to the authorities there, they freed almost 2,000 prisoners.

The attackers stated that they were part of the protests against police violence.

"Most of the inmates detained in the centers are convicted criminals who are detained for various crimes and awaiting execution or on trial for violent crimes," said an interior ministry spokesman.

Military was deployed in the capital, Abuja, to control the protests.

At first they were directed primarily against the now disbanded elite unit Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).

In the meantime, however, the demonstrators are calling for far-reaching police reforms.

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kfr / dpa / Reuters