Nigeria’s Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, has promised justice for the victims who were shot during Tuesday’s protest at the Lekki toll gate in the commercial hub Lagos.
Amnesty International has said at least 12 people were killed by soldiers and police in two locations in the city, although Nigeria’s army dismissed the reports as “fake news”.
Witnesses have told the BBC that men in military camouflage shot at protesters.
The vice-president said some policemen were also killed “in different parts of Lagos and other states”.
“The pain of these terrible events is palpable in our towns and cities, and some losses are irreplaceable, but we can and will get justice for all of them,” Mr Osinbajo said on Thursday in a series of tweets
His reassurance follows worldwide condemnation of the crackdown on protesters – who initially wanted police reforms but have broadened their demands to include reforms to the way the country is run.
The vice-president said he had paid hospital visits to some of the victims.
Second Nigerian media outlet attacked
Armed men attacked a media house in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos, on Wednesday as anti-police brutality protests continued.
The Nation Newspaper editor, Adeniyi Adesina, said the men poured petrol at the gate of their premises and set it ablaze as others raided the office and took away computers.
The media house had been listed among businesses deemed as sympathetic to the government.
“The Nation has robustly reported the protests fairly giving voice to the agitation of youths for a better Nigeria,” the editor said.
The Nation tweeted:
Social embed from twitter
This is the second attack on a media house during the ongoing protests.
Journalists at TVC News were stranded after people raided their offices in Lagos and torshed cars packed near the office.
The International Press Centre has condemned the attacks on media outlets and journalists.
