Conflict trends – weekly update

NIGERIA Ten days of demonstrations against police brutality and impunity continued in several cities, notably federal capital Abuja and economic centre Lagos. So far, at least eight youths and two police officers have been reported killed as police forcefully dispersed protesters. Crisis Group expert Nnamdi Obasi says despite some welcome steps by the government and police leadership, notably disbanding the police’s dreaded anti-robbery unit, protesters have vowed to continue until the government begins deeper police reform. Worryingly, armed attacks against demonstrators in Abuja and Lagos this week, apparently perpetrated by thugs, raise the risk of deadly clashes in the coming days unless security agencies protect peaceful protesters.