The rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned the shooting of peaceful protesters in front of the national assembly on Friday morning.
The watchdog of the Nigerian police, in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma
lamented that Police operatives shot live bullets at peaceful protesters and arrested a Sahara Reporters reporter who was covering the protest.
#EndSARS The Nigeria Police Force will never learn, this protest was carried out at the National Assembly in Abuja, we had been done engraving #EndSARS and leaving when they unleashed violence on peaceful protesters but these acts will not delay our freedom! #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/07QyPhRL6Q
— Omoyele Sowore (@sowore) November 6, 2020
The statement which stressed that “the use of lethal force on peaceful and unarmed protesters is illegal, disproportionate, unprofessional and a premeditation to kill,” added that today’s shootings indicate “no lessons have been learnt from the #EndSARS protests and the events following it.”
RULAAC therefore appealed to the Federal Government and members of the police force to discharge their duties responsibly, stressing that the police is a higher calling and officers should act with responsibility, with high standards, devoid of malice or vengeance and violence.
It also expressed fears that today’s shooting could be a foretaste of what to expect from the warning by the Lagos State Police commands that it will not tolerate any further protests in Lagos State.
It is worthwhile to note that peaceful #EndSARS protesters gathered in front of the national assembly were dispersed by men of the Nigerian police who shot live rounds.
The police also arrested 4 of the protesters including a journalist covering the event.
