The United States (US) Government has condemned the Tuesday, October 20 shooting of peaceful and unarmed #EndSARS protesters in Lagos State by soldiers.
Protesters, majorly youths, on October 20th embarked on a protest in Lagos at Lekki Toll Gate to demand for an end to police brutality in Nigeria.
But some soldiers attacked and fired live bullets at the #EndSARS protesters, who were waving Nigeria’s flags, at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos State. Many of them were injured.
Foreign governments and organisations have continued to condemn the incident.
Responding to the incident in a statement by the U.S. Secretary, Michael R. Pompeo, released on Thursday, the US Government said it “strongly condemns the use of excessive force by military forces who fired on unarmed demonstrators in Lagos, causing death and injury.”
The statement read further, “We welcome an immediate investigation into any use of excessive force by members of the security forces. Those involved should be held to account in accordance with Nigerian law.
“The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are essential human rights and core democratic principles.
“We call on the security services to show maximum restraint and respect fundamental rights and for demonstrators to remain peaceful. We extend our condolences to the victims of the violence and their families”, the statement read.
Meanwhile in a nation wide broadcast today, President Buhari advised our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, thanking them while urging them to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements on the protest and the lekki acclaimed massacre.
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