'Perfect storm': How Nigeria's peaceful police protests turned violent

FILE PHOTO: A view shows shattered glass at the Lekki toll gate, a site where soldiers had opened fire on protesters late on Tuesday, as Nigeria's Lagos state eases a round-the-clock curfew imposed in response to protests against alleged police brutality, after days of unrest, in Lagos, Nigeria October 24, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

LAGOS (Reuters) - Tears fill Ephraim Osinboyejo's eyes as he recalls the idealism that drove thousands of Nigerians like him into the streets to campaign against police brutality - and the night he saw young activists gunned down.

The 39-year-old businessman says he returned to Nigeria last year after two decades abroad because he wanted to help his country. When nationwide demonstrations began on Oct. 8, he volunteered to manage logistics at the main protest site in Lagos.