THREAD documenting violence at last week’s #EndSARS & #EndSWAT protests.

Police brutality is a regular horror for some Nigerians. But now, more than ever, cries ring out to #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria.

This thread helps ensure those incidents aren’t swept under the rug.
1/25

N.B. This thread isn’t exhaustive and can’t give a full picture of each event. Many need more investigation.

A number like: 9.068064, 7.511115, is a geocode identifying a place as coordinates do: 9°04'05.0"N 7°30'40.0"E.

Copy & paste into Google to see the place.
2/25

12th Oct – Surulere, Lagos

At #SURULEREPROTEST, #EndSARS protestors gathered at West entrance to Iyun Rd: 6.502924, 3.363842.

Armed police officers, positioned 20m from Anti-Kidnapping Unit base, stood opposite them.

Video captures the seconds before gunfire resonated.
3/25

12th Oct – Surulere, Lagos

Another view of protestors diving for cover as gunshots were heard.

That large building in the background…? – It’s the Office of the Public Defender in Surulere.

Right in front of it, on Western Avenue, protestors dive for cover.
4/25

12th Oct – Surulere, Lagos

Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, 55, was a bystander not involved in the protests.

A bullet hit him in the neck. He was more than 250m away from the protest’s centre.
5/25

Re: 12th Oct – Surulere, Lagos

Later in the week, Lagos State Governor, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, stated some of the Police officers involved in that incident were arrested and are undergoing trial.

https://twitter.com/jidesanwoolu/status/1316823660020355074
6/25

13th Oct – Abjua, FCT

More than 300 miles away, #AbujaProtests continued for a further consecutive week.

On the roads leading to National Assembly, soldiers took cameras from activists filming.

As in this case at: 9.062694, 7.499857 where the protests were focused.
7/25

13th Oct – Abjua, FCT

TV news crews also reported their cameras being taken.
@ARISEtv’s camera was seized at: 9.062603, 7.500069.
8/25

13th Oct - Abjua, FCT

Soldiers drove protestors back towards the South West away from the National Assembly.

Seen in this video filmed at – the Northern junction of Hospital Avenue N & Shehu Shagari Way.

https://www.google.com/maps/@9.062703,7.5001318,108m/data=!3m1!1e3
9/25

14th Oct - Abjua, FCT

The previous day’s events didn’t stop demonstrators in the Capital.

On Wednesday, people gathered again at Berger Junction here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Berger+Jct,+Abuja,+Nigeria/@9.0673709,7.4513408,232m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x104e0b2707e1914f:0x90b3a2a99ad98fb5!8m2!3d9.0677252!4d7.451544
10/25

14th Oct - Abjua, FCT

This time, something different happened.

Men armed with sticks, stones and machete’s advanced toward protestors from the North.

Here’s the Google street view of the view captured in that video: https://www.google.com/maps/@9.0671451,7.4523257,3a,49y,1.65h,86.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srznpzILyZkvlsDCu9-5vhA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
11/25

14th Oct - Abjua, FCT

They smashed windscreens at Berger Junction. Filmed from bridge: 9.066451, 7.452047.

Reports followed of attacks on demonstrators. Some so-called ‘thugs’ wounded and taken to hospital/Police.

Many protestors angered by Police's response to this.
12/25

14th Oct – Alausa, Lagos

Same day, at very similar time, protests at LASG Secretariat also struck by ‘thugs’.

But these ‘thugs’ were too driven back by protestors.

Footage filmed from pedestrian bridge ( https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lagos+State+Secretariat+-+Alausa/@6.6172377,3.3649095,142m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!1m2!2m1!1slagos+state+secretariat!3m4!1s0x103b93a333810f2f:0x6f664872f21b48bd!8m2!3d6.6169887!4d3.3596427?hl=en) captured the moment they fled South East.
13/25

15th Oct – Alausa, Lagos

Remarkably, the next day armed ‘thugs’ sighted at this #LagosProtest again.

Clip shot at pedestrian bridge: 6.617011, 3.364734.

Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu said the incident, and one in Surulere, are being investigated.

https://twitter.com/jidesanwoolu/status/1316819857736896514
14/25

15th Oct – Jos, Plateau State

#JosProtests also became intense on Thursday where gunfire on Old Airport Rd sent protestors running for cover.

Video filmed at: 9.876436, 8.874172.
15/25

15th Oct – Jos, Plateau State

Teargas was fired & reports came in that a Police-escorted convoy fired live ammunition.

I have not yet independently verified this. However, images did circulate of officers in that convoy brandishing their firearms.
16/25

15th Oct – Abuja, FCT

Also on Thursday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) banned street demonstrations in the Capital on account of COVID-19 guidelines.

https://twitter.com/OfficialFCTA/status/1316683815729991681
17/25

16th Oct – Benin, Edo

‘Thugs’ hit again on Friday. This time in the #Beninprotests.

Two people were reported killed.

Armed persons sighted coming from Abehe Street toward King’s Square. Gunshot heard.

Those two buildings sighted in the footage: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@6.3333933,5.6214722,3a,75y,308.99h,83.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sn1_dx__2HRf4Y6BxkvwjGQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
18/25

17th Oct - Osogbo, Osun

Saturday saw the #Osogboprotest reach serious levels.

Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola convoy here seen amongst the crowd as he addressed protestors about #EndSARS in the shadow of Nelson Mandela Freedom Park: 7.775853, 4.545630.
19/25

17th Oct – Osogbo, Osun

Convoy and crowd after the address.

Some reported an assassination attempt on the Governor. Gunfire heard in other videos shot close to this one - origin of it not clear.

Again, filmed here: 7.775853, 4.545630.
20/25

18th Oct – Ilorin, Kwara

Yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara so-called ‘thugs’ attacked again.
Videos like this show men armed with hand-to-hand weapons striking fleeing people.

It was filmed on this bridge here: 8.487711, 4.564044, pointing towards the West.
21/25

18th Oct – Ilorin, Kwara

A ground-level view shows the advance of the armed men from the East towards protestors gathered near Freedom Park Bus Stop.

The voice on the megaphone at this #ilorinprotest can be heard pleading with the assailants to stop.
22/25

Video H/T’s (couldn’t fit in the respective tweets):
1/20 – @ibrahimu14 (photographer) / @AishaYesufu
3/20 - @adedamola_op
4/20 - @tojucoasta
5/20 - @MayeniJones / @Naomi_sb
7/20 – @solomon16522
8/20 - @ARISEtv
9/20 - @baaleofabuja
11/20 - @iFahvoh
12/20 - @WalkerSavvy8

23/25

13/20 - @Lailasnews_com
14/20 - @seunakindele__
15/20 - @GoodwinOjodomo
16/20 - @ManUtdInPidgin
18/20 - @itsy_imho
19/20 - @OsunDefender
20/20 – @cartoon_lee01
21/20 - @TheInformant247
22/20 - @suavee0

24/25

I can only offer some information on each event so far. But there’s more to uncover.

Still looking for video evidence not already online showing cause of each.

Most importantly, to protestors at #EndSARS / #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria/ #EndSWAT this week... please be safe.
25/25