Riot hits Nigerian town after accusations of police torture

AFP

22 02 2011

KANO, Nigeria — A mob angered by the death of a man who had been in police custody rioted Sunday in a Nigerian town, leaving one person dead after authorities opened fire and three buildings burnt, police said.

The riots occurred in the northern town of Dambatta in Kano state and broke out after a man authorities described as a notorious thief died after being taken into police custody.

Rioters and his family blamed police for his death, claiming they tortured him. Police commissioner Muhammad Tambari Yabo denied officers were to blame and said authorities later shot into the air when the mob sought to burn down the police station.

« Unfortunately one rioter was shot dead and two others injured by stray bullets, » said Yabo. « The mob was further enraged and they went about burning some buildings. » Read more…

~ par Alain Bertho sur 22 février 2011.

Publié dans émeutes, riots