By Olayiwola Balogun – Nigerians in the United Kingdom turned out in their multitudes on Wednesday 21 October 2020 at the Nigeria High Commission London, Parliament Square and areas close to Downing Street residence of Prime Minister Boris Johnson to protest in solidarity with their citizens who were brutally killed by Nigerian soldiers following a peaceful EndSARS demonstration at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos Nigeria.
Some UK Members of Parliament and Councillors joined their constituents at the protest in the demand for investigations into the killings of innocent young Nigerians who were engaged in a lawful and peaceful protest in Lagos and several cities in Nigeria.
Florence Eshalomi MP, one of the British Nigerian Members of Parliament called on Nigerians in the UK to reach out to their local MPs about the on-going crisis in Nigeria.
Majority of Nigerians across the world are enraged, celebrities and world leaders have commented on the shooting of protesters, as well as violence across the country.
Former US Vice President and now Presidential Aspirant, Joe Biden said, “I urge President Buhari and the Nigerian military to cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already resulted in several deaths. My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence. The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy. I encourage the government to engage in a good-faith dialogue with civil society to address these long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria.”
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, called for an “end to reported police brutality and abuses” and called on the authorities “to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Other notable leaders include Hilary and Bill Clinton, singer Beyoncé, Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Nigerian football international footballer Odion Ighalo, President Nana Akufo of Ghana while the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office have released a statement.
“Following the protests in Nigeria against police brutality and the allegations of the deaths of protesters, the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: I am deeply concerned by the recent violence and continued clashes in Nigeria, and am alarmed by widespread reports of civilian deaths.
We call for an end to violence. The Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports of brutality at the hands of the security forces and hold those responsible to account.”
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