The UN Secretary-General on
Wednesday said he was closely
following recent developments across
Nigeria, in the wake of reports that
protesters had been shot dead
and wounded, and called for “an end
to reported police brutality and
abuses.”
António Guterres said in a statement issued by
his Spokesperson, that he condemned “the
violent escalation on 20 October in Lagos which
resulted in multiple deaths and caused many
injuries.”
According to witnesses, Nigerian security forces
opened fire on Tuesday night in Africa’s largest
city, as protests continued over a now-disbanded
and discredited police unit, known as the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS.
The Government has pledged to carry out further
police reforms, and improve police
accountability.
A curfew has been imposed on Lagos and
other parts of Nigeria, with reports that tensions
continued into Wednesday, with police across the
city firing shots in the air, in an effort to disperse
protesters who were defying the order to stay off
the streets.
The UN chief expressed his condolences to the
families of the bereaved, and wished a speedy
recovery to those injured.
He called on Nigerian authorities “to investigate
these incidents and hold the perpetrators
accountable.”
Mr. Guterres also urged 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”, the statement
continued. “He reiterates the readiness of the
United Nations to support national efforts
towards finding a solution.”
The UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet on
Wednesday, also strongly condemned the
excessive and disproportionate force by Nigerian
armed forces in Lagos, in a statement issued by
her office, OHCHR .
She called on the Nigerian authorities to take
urgent steps to deal decisively with the
underlying problem of persistent violations
committed by security forces, and make a far
stronger effort to bring police and army
personnel guilty of crimes against civilians to
justice.
“While the number of casualties of yesterday’s
shooting at the Lekki toll plaza in Lagos is still
not clear, there is little doubt that this was a
case of excessive use of force, resulting in
unlawful killings with live ammunition, by
Nigerian armed forces,” Ms. Bachelet said.
“Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were
deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are
even more disturbing as, if confirmed, they
suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful
protestors was premeditated, planned and
coordinated.”
Street scene, Papa
Ajao, Lagos, Nigeria.
The High Commissioner noted that the country
“was already at boiling point before this shooting
because of the revelations about years of
unchecked violence, including alleged killings,
rape, extortion and other violations, by the
Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
“While the authorities have now dissolved SARS
and announced a series of inquiries at both
Federal and State levels, there have still been few
if any charges levelled against its members
despite abundant evidence against various
members of the squad, as well as members of
other security forces and the army.”
She said the continued protests are several
weeks of demonstrations, was evidence that
there was no public trust in the authorities’
response thus far:
“I appreciate that the Government has taken a
number of measures to address the protestors’
demands,” Ms. Bachelet said. “However, the
immediate creation of another elite police SWAT
team to replace the SARS - without first
addressing some of the root causes of police
violence and putting in place sufficient
safeguards to prevent future violations - has
eroded the public’s trust even further. This latest
terrible event in Lagos is like wantonly adding
fuel to a fire that was already starting to rage out
of control.”
She added that the authorities needed to take
immediate concrete steps to show they are
genuinely committed to tackling impunity, after
years of inaction.
“There need to be immediate, independent,
transparent and thorough investigations, not just
into last night’s killings, but also into all the
previous violations committed by security
forces…Those appointed to carry out such
investigations must not only be independent and
impartial, but must be widely perceived as such.
And, where sufficient evidence already exists to
warrant charges, immediate suspension of
officers – including senior officers - suspected of
committing serious crimes, should take place
long before the conclusion of such
investigations.”
She said now was the time for “a root and
branch re-examination of the entire security
sector, and of its civilian oversight…This should
include a full-scale review of rules of
engagement and training systems and methods.”
Ms. Bachelet also called for immediate
investigations into reports of violent and
provocative attacks on peaceful protestors by
unidentified groups armed with cudgels,
cutlasses, sticks or guns, in some cases
apparently with the overt backing of police or
other security forces.
“Nigerians, like everyone else, have a
fundamental right to peaceful assembly and
protest,” the High Commissioner said. “The
Government has a responsibility to take positive
measures to ensure the realization of this right,
including deterring others who intend to prevent
them from protesting peacefully. The world’s
attention is now focused sharply on how
Nigeria’s Government and security forces react
over the coming days and weeks.”
“In a population with such a young median age,
it is important to listen to the grievances of the
younger generation and make an effort to
address the multiple problems they face, which
include - but are far from confined to - police
brutality and violations.”

No source then I won't post even full stop here. I can't comment