Violent clashes renewed Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, with gunshots heard and fire broke out in the city’s central prison, a day after the shooting of demonstrators, which sparked condemnation from several countries.
An AFP correspondent said it was possible to hear the sound of bullets and see smoke rising from a prison in central Lagos.
Police said that attackers assaulted the prison on the second day of violence in the city of 20 million people, and after a brutal crackdown by security forces on demonstrators.
Amnesty International revealed that Nigerian soldiers and policemen have killed at least 12 peaceful demonstrators on Tuesday, while 56 have been killed in total in the country since the start of demonstrations against police violations on 8 October.
On Thursday, the United States condemned what it described as the excessive use of violence by the Nigerian military.
"We welcome an immediate investigation into the excessive use of violence by security forces," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
"Those involved must be held accountable in accordance with Nigerian law," he added.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who did not comment directly on the events, held a meeting of the National Security Council in the presence of his defense minister and the chief of police, according to an official statement.
Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osenbajo said he was "heartbroken" at the scene of the shooting victims as well as the police and others who lost their lives in the unrest.
"The pain as a result of these horrific events is evident in our towns and cities, and some of the losses cannot be compensated, but we can achieve justice for all of them and we will do that," he added in a statement.
The Nigerian army described reports of soldiers opening fire on protesters as "misleading news".
Police Minister Mehmet Majari Dengiadi told the BBC that no orders had been given for the soldiers to shoot on the protesters.
Social media users have shared photos and videos of the violence in Nigeria on a large scale, fueling anger towards the authorities.
The governor of Lagos announced a round-the-clock curfew and the state's activities suspended until Friday.
On Thursday, soldiers patrolled the city’s streets, a day after a police station, a TV station headquarters, the port, government buildings and many cars were torched.
Demonstrations erupted in Nigeria two weeks ago against the brutality of the police's Special Anti-Theft Unit (SARS).
On Thursday, the African Union strongly condemned the violence and called on all parties to give priority to "dialogue."
The United Nations, the European Union and Britain called for those responsible for the killings to be held accountable.
Nigerians in the UK took to the streets in protest over the killing of protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday night.
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Nigerian Protests in the UK[/caption]
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