Nigeria toll road protest turns violent

2011-12-17 21:51

Lagos - Witnesses say police in Nigeria have shot rifles and fired tear gas at protesters who were demonstrating against toll roads.

At least one person was shot at Saturday's protest, and police also beat and arrested an Associated Press photographer who was covering the event.

One police officer held the photographer down while others hit him with batons. His camera equipment was taken before he was thrown into the back of a police truck. More than a dozen other people also were arrested.

The photographer was released several hours later without charge, and was treated for blunt-force trauma injuries to his neck, shoulder and knee.

The protest focused on anger over the state government allowing a private company that built a major road in Lagos to collect tolls there.

- SAPA