Amnesty International Nigeria has reported ongoing human rights abuses, including unlawful detention, extortion, torture, and sexual violence by the Nigeria Police, despite the national outcry during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.
These protests aimed to end police brutality, particularly by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, but were halted abruptly on October 20, 2020, after a deadly military crackdown at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi stated the urgent need for reform, stating, “We receive – almost daily – reports of human rights violations by the police across Nigeria… The opportunity for reform must not slip away.”
Amnesty highlighted specific incidents of police violence since the protests, including the deaths of civilians like Jumoke Oyeleke and Bolanle Raheem. Sanusi urged, “The authorities must fulfill their promises to address human rights violations… All atrocities before and after #EndSARS must be investigated.”
The organisation criticised the lack of accountability, noting that while Lagos State published findings from its judicial panel, many states, including Borno and Sokoto, have not initiated any investigative measures.
As a result, victims’ families continue to seek justice, with many still awaiting compensation for their losses, it added.
