“violent attacks on peaceful protesters demanding the release of Omoyele
Sowore and Olawale Bakare as ordered by the court.”
In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the
organization said: “We have seen a video footage apparently showing the
use of lethal and excessive force by Nigerian security agents against
peaceful protesters demanding the release of Sowore and Bakare as
ordered by the court. We condemn the ruthless violence and shocking
abuses against protesters.”
The statement read in part: “@UNHumanRights @UN_SPExperts @davidakaye
should urgently respond to the rule of law and human rights crisis in
Nigeria and call on the authorities to end this brutality. It is high
time to ramp up monitoring on the situation in Nigeria and to send
investigators to the country at once.”
“The use of lethal and excessive force violates the very core of
Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations. This
should end immediately, and those responsible should be held to
account.”
“Nigerian authorities should immediately obey ALL court orders and
specifically the court order for the release of Sowore and Bakare from
arbitrary detention.”