UN human rights experts demand Nigeria investigate shooting of peaceful protesters by soldiers

GENEVA (3 November 2020) – The Nigerian government must set up a credible, independent inquiry into the recent illegal killings of at least 12 peaceful by soldiers, UN human rights experts* said today.

"Since 2005, UN Special Rapporteurs have repeatedly raised the issue of police killings and impunity with the Nigerian government," the experts said. "We have had 15 years of government promises, but nothing has changed.

"Governments come and go, but police brutality is as intractable as ever. Nigerians need justice."

Excessive use of force during peaceful assemblies is always unacceptable, the experts said, but the shootings at Lekki toll plaza in Lagos on 20 October were "especially disturbing because demonstrators were precisely calling for accountability for previous police brutality."

Nigerians have taken to the streets across the country since 8 October to protest rights violations reportedly committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

"What is particularly disturbing is that the authorities said they had disbanded the SARS and agreed to the protestors other demands, including investigations," the experts said. "But they immediately announced the formation of another similar unit and have not ended the excessive use of force."

Protestors have been met with water cannons, tear gas and live ammunition. Hundreds have been injured and an unknown number killed. In addition, security services have allegedly arrested and beaten protestors, and armed individuals have attacked others.

The fact that in the Lekki toll plaza incident CCTV cameras and lights were apparently switched off shortly before soldiers opened fire on the peaceful protestors indicates "a disturbing level of premeditation," the experts said.

Systematic police brutality and use of excessive force against peaceful protesters must be independently and impartially investigated and the perpetrators brought to the justice, the human rights experts said.

In addition to setting up an independent inquiry, authorities must clarify why the military was deployed and who gave the order, the experts said. "Any investigation must aim to identify lines of responsibility, deliver accountability and justice, provide remedies and reparations, and recommend structural and systemic changes," they said.

The experts also called on the government to release the reports of previous investigations into human rights violations by the security forces. These include the 2019 report by the National Human Rights Commission report on SARS and the 2018 report by the Presidential Investigation Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement ("PIP".

"The authorities have promised for years to address human rights violations by the security forces," said the experts. "Hundreds of victims and relatives of those who died have testified and sent petitions, but they never received any remedy, not even the acknowledgement that their rights were violated. It is crucial that the government releases all these reports to the public before they start new investigations."

The experts have written directly to the Nigerian government, stressing that "it is high time that concrete action is taken to properly look into all incidents and that structural changes be made to prevent any re-occurrence."

Source: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26468&LangID=E

FTC on this kinda thread.

The issue is this, the government will not listen to UN.

UN is on their own as long as Nigeria is concern. But believe me, if there's any killing, the sender, the killers and the supporters will never go unpunish. They will suffer the same fate and their voices won't be heard for help.

Amen

Let Trump win first, by then, we will ask the lifeless one about the youths he killed at Lekki toll gate. After that, foolish Wike will start warming up to join Laurent Gbagbo and co at Hague






Let them pray harder for Bidden to overturn the situation, if not......Buhari is going

Damnnn niggarrrr
He don set for buhari and the Nigerian army

I know say the army go don dey find another excuse and lie
Nigeria army is like we were not there....
But later they agreed they were there at the request of sanwo olu but never shot
Now they are saying they shot but it wasn't live ammunition and it was blank ammunition
Okay make panel see una morgue na...then una deny them asses for good 30 minutes
I thought they were done with their lies
Until one stupid malami comes up with another one that it was hoodlums wearing army uniform that shot protesters
Buhari, Sanwo olu, and the Nigerian army don't know what they have put their hand into

It is well

Trump we believe you!
You have proven such things all around the globe including the one you did here last week.
We can't wait for you to win!!!

Okay

While we are investigating the Lekki incident,
UN please kindly help us Anambra youths to quicken investigation into this heinous crime of over 40 bodies of able bodied men killed, burnt and fed to the fishes!!
It has been swept under the carpet for some years now.

Every life matters.

That's very good... Meanwhile buhari should issue visa ban on any American politician that instigates violence

slawormiir:
Damnnn niggarrrr
He don set for buhari and the Nigerian army

If only you know the crop of men leading this country.. You for no talk this thing.

He who comes with equity must come with clean hand

To all Buhari supporters, Nigeria will never be like America or better if we do not fight for the future of our kids.

The problem with the black community is
1. We don't think about tomorrow,
2. We are hopeful God/Allah will just fix our problems caused by us.


Whether 100 unharmed people were killed or 1 person was killed, then we must punish whoever ordered the killings. Remove emotional or religious sentiments and watch Nigeria grow else let the country divide if we cannot work together to build a better future

Okay

Rubbish

When the face of the main killers will be protected.

UN just urging for urging sake

When you hear of rapture do not take it for granted or abuse those preaching to you about it

In those days wouldn't be like we want peace, there will be either you join or die

Join and go to hell, or face the tribulation

@UN!

Our president wasn't aware so nothing can be done

Right, easier said than done

Hv

There was no massacre!

The soldiers were carrying plastic toy guns which was bought from ShopRite two days before!

They should also investigate the genocide in Oyigbo Rivers State. All these killings and impunities must not be allowed to go unpunished.

Na now una go react abi , yeye they smell
Una reaction fit bring back the dead ?

Fela Anikulapo kuti has seen it all

In fela's voice " who and who unite for United Nations "

They don't Care about Africans

What is there to investigate. The government sent soldiers to shoot people. Asking the government to investigate is same as asking them to admit to having a hand in the deaths of unarmed protesters. Nothing will come out from the investigations as long as its done by the government. The UN should be the one to lead the investigations if they re truly interested in finding out the truth about what happened.

Now they know the world was watching!
No hiding place for the wicked!

Something them dey try cover up









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