Following the recent protests between demonstrators and the Nigerian special forces, the Association against Impunity and for Transitional Justice (AITJ) urges that police violence should no longer remain unpunished and that full respect for human rights such as freedom of expression and opinion is guaranteed in the country.
On Wednesday, part of the demonstrators against police violence in Abuja was attacked by a group of unidentified men with machetes. In the last week it is estimated that the Nigerian army, notorious for its violent past, is responsible for the deaths of at least 10 protesters.
Demonstrations against police brutality took place in most cities of Nigeria in the past week. The protests continued despite the authorities agreeing to disband the Special Squad (Sars) and the government’s announcement banning protests in the capital city of Abuja.
The protests began after the alleged killing of a young man by officers of the Sars unit at the beginning of October. AITJ welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari's initiative to promote a 'comprehensive reform' of the Nigerian police service, however calls for all protesters to be released immediately and for an impartial investigation concerning the violence perpetrated.