The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, has condemned the shooting of peaceful #EndSARS protesters in Lagos State on Tuesday by security operatives.
A statement attributed to Guterres, which was released on UN website by his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, in response to the incident read:
“The Secretary-General is following recent developments in Nigeria and calls for an end to reported police brutality and abuses. He condemns the violent escalation on 20 October in Lagos which resulted in multiple deaths and caused many injuries. He expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. He calls on the Nigerian authorities to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable.
“The Secretary-General urges the security forces to act at all times with maximum restraint while calling on protestors to demonstrate peacefully and to refrain from violence.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate in the United States, Joe Biden, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the military to stop the violent crackdown on #EndSARS protesters in the country.
In a statement titled: “Violence in Nigeria,” the ex-US vice-president said his country must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption.
He said: “I urge President Buhari and the Nigerian military to cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already resulted in several deaths. My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence.
“The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy. I encourage the government to engage in a good-faith dialogue with civil society to address these long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria.”
