By Enyinnaya Ihechi
As predicted by many, the #EndSARS protest turned bloody in Benin, Edo State on Friday, as armed thugs attacked killing two persons and injuring many.
One of the dead protesters was identified simply as Ikpomwosa.
The peaceful protest by hundreds of youths which began at the city centre, later turned bloody, as the hoodlums clashed with the protesting youths.
Their death would bring to 12, the number of protesters that have been killed since the protests began about a week ago.
Before Yesterday according to Amnesty International, at least 11 people have died in protests over police brutality in Nigeria.
The the human rights group said police have used excessive force against unarmed protesters since the protests started last Thursday.
“So far, Nigerian Police have killed at least 10 people since the start of protests against callous operations of SARS,” according to Amnesty International.
“The excessive use of force by the police in response to the protests reveals the longstanding disregard for the right to life by Nigerian security forces,” Amnesty said.
The agency said excessive use of force “without justifiable grounds is a crime under international law.”
“Amnesty International therefore calls for an urgent review of the use of force and firearms by police officers against protesters and thorough, independent and impartial investigation into all cases of violence including deaths that occurred during the #EndSARS protests,” Seun Bakare, head of programs at Amnesty International Nigeria, said.