UN Secretary-General calls for end to police brutality in Nigeria

Antonio Gutterres, United Nations Secretary-General, said on Wednesday that he has been closely following the End-SARS protests in Nigeria and called for an end to Police brutality.

The UN website reports that Gutterres condemned “the violent escalation on 20 October in Lagos which resulted in multiple deaths and caused many injuries,” in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

This was after witnesses testified to media that the Nigerian military opened fire on protesters in Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos, on Tuesday night killing at least 10 people.

The Nigerian government promised to investigate Tuesday’s killing and a curfew has been placed on Lagos and other towns as protests against Nigeria’s Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, police is becoming more violent.

On Wednesday, protesters however defied the curfew and the police fired gun shots to disperse the crowd.

The UN SG urged the Nigerian government “to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable,” while promising UN’s support to find solutions to the problem.

“The Secretary-General encourages the authorities to swiftly explore avenues to de-escalate the situation. He reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to support national efforts towards finding a solution.”

Mr. Guterres also said security forces should “act at all times with maximum restraint while calling on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and to refrain from violence.”

Mimi Mefo Info