On Friday, Nigerian protests against police cruelty continued for the ninth day, with demonstrators beating back attacks from gangs suspected to be supported by the police, warnings from the Nigerian military, and a government order to stop because of COVID-19.
In Lagos, demonstrators blocked the road to the international airport and the main highway into the city. The Lagos-Ibadan highway, one of Nigeria's busiest, is the main road linking the port city to the rest of Nigeria.
Demonstrators in the capital, Abuja, also raised a banner containing the photographs for SARS victims. The unit has killed and tortured many Nigerians, according to human rights groups.
The protests broke out last week after an online video got uploaded on social media, showing a man being beaten to death by police from the SARS unit.
In response to the widespread demonstrations by young Nigerians, the government said it would suspend the SARS unit, but the protesters are continuing, saying they want an end to all police brutality.
The peaceful protesters have been attacked recently by gangs armed with guns, knives, clubs, and machetes. The protesters say they are determined to continue and chargeback the police- hired attackers, according to reports in the local press.
Nigeria's military published a warning against "subversive elements and troublemakers," saying the army would "maintain law and order, and deal with any situation decisively."
Protester John Uche told The Associated Press that "If they are sincere, they would have banned the crowded rallies politicians have been holding."
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