World News | Resentment, Smoke Linger in Nigeria's Streets After Unrest
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Resentment lingered with the smell of charred tires Friday as Nigeria's streets were relatively calm after days of protests over police abuses, while authorities gave little acknowledgement to reports of the military killing at least 12 peaceful demonstrators earlier this week.
Lagos, Oct 23 (AP) Resentment lingered with the smell of charred tires Friday as Nigeria's streets were relatively calm after days of protests over police abuses, while authorities gave little acknowledgement to reports of the military killing at least 12 peaceful demonstrators earlier this week.
President Muhammadu Buhari in his first comments on the unrest didn't mention the shootings that sparked international outrage, instead warning protesters against being used by “subversive elements” and “undermining national security and law and order” during a national address Thursday night.
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An angry crowd shouted at the governor of Lagos state, which encompasses Africa's largest city, as officials toured burned-out vehicles and the sacked palace of Lagos's ceremonial leader Friday.
Meanwhile, Buhari met with former presidents and top officials on how to move forward from some of Nigeria's worst unrest in years.
This week's scenes of flag-holding protesters scattering amid gunfire have touched a chord with Black Lives Matter supporters in the United States, while the U.S. government has strongly condemned the “use of excessive force by military forces who fired on unarmed demonstrators in Lagos, causing death and injury.”
The military opened fire without warning on thousands of peaceful protesters singing the national anthem Tuesday night, killing at least 12 people, according to Amnesty International.
The protests turned violent Wednesday after the shooting as mobs vandalized and burned police stations, courthouses, TV stations and a hotel. Police battled angry crowds with tear gas and gunfire. The looting and gunfire continued Thursday.
The Lagos deputy governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, told a local radio station Friday that the peaceful protests with an understandable grievance had been hijacked by hoodlums. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)