The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) António Guterres has condemned the violent escalation on 20 October in Lagos which resulted in multiple deaths and caused many injuries.
Tensions have escalated across the oil-rich West African nation in recent days as violence has flared across several cities across southern and central states. Armed groups—which demonstrators say were government agitators, a charge the government and its allies has denied—have clashed with protesters, the property has been vandalized and in the southwestern Edo state, dozens of prisoners were freed in a jailbreak, prompting the state government to impose a curfew.
In a statement by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said “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 statement added that “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.”
ECOWAS Commission
Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Commission has called on security forces in Nigeria to exercise restraint in their engagement with protestors who have been on the street for days over police brutalities.
The Commission has also urged the protestors to be peaceful in their demonstration.
The statement comes in the wake of calls on ECOWAS President Nana Akufo-Addo to comment on the chaos in Nigeria. Some Ghanaians have also taken to social media to criticise the President for his silence since the chaos.
“ECOWAS Commission notes with concern that demonstrations by Nigerian youth calling for police reform, particularly the abolition of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, accused of misconduct by those demonstrating, have turned violent. ECOWAS Commission expresses its condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives during the protests and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.
While ECOWAS Commission recognizes the right of citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and protests, it is also of the view that those rights should be exercised in a non-violent manner.
“In this regard, ECOWAS Commission calls on all protesters to remain peaceful in the conduct of their demonstrations. It also urges the Nigerian security operatives to exercise restraint in the handling of the protests and act professionally,” the statement signed by the ECOWAS Commission President said Wednesday.
It added: “ECOWAS Commission further notes that, in an effort to address the demands of the protesting youth, the Federal Government of Nigeria took important decisions regarding disbandment of SARS, comprehensive police reforms and investigation of cases of police brutality. It encourages the Nigerian Authorities to conduct the investigation rapidly.
“Finally, ECOWAS Commission appeals to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian youth and the civil society to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order.
Abuja, 21 October 2020”.