Domestic airlines, aviation agencies lose over N900m to EndSARs crises
Domestic airlines and aviation agencies have reportedly lost over N900 million as a result of the fall out of the EndSARS protests across the country. This was even as the aviation industry which was the worst hit from the COVID-19 pandemic is still struggling from the negative impact of the over five months of lockdown. Thousands of youths across the country joined the protest against the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit which rights groups had, for years, accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders. As at Tuesday, October 20, hoodlums had hijacked the protests which were largely peaceful, leading to mayhem which hadspread to many parts of Lagos and across Nigeria, with looting of shops and arson of banks and public buildings. The crises further escalated after witnesses and rights groups said soldiers opened fire on a crowd of peaceful protesters defying a curfew at Lekki toll gate, where Amnesty International alleged that at least 12 protesters were killed. This led to the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew in Lagos, forcing many airlines to cancel their flights, thus losing millions in revenue.
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