Goodluck Jonathan, a former President of Nigeria, has condemned Tuesday’s shooting of #EndSARS protesters by security forces at the popular Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State.
Recall that some Nigerian youths took to the streets to protest the operations of the now-dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force. The nationwide protests metamorphosed into an agitation for good governance and an end to police brutality.
However, in a bid to disperse the protesters, soldiers stormed Lekki, one of the venues of the protest, and opened fire on the young protesters. According to Amnesty International, twelve people died in the shooting, while several people sustained various degrees of injury.
Jonathan, in a statement on Thursday, said the federal government failed to dialogue with the protesters before using force. He added that such actions will only worsen the situation, which he said has already happened.
Jonathan urged security agencies to ensure maximum restraint when carrying out their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property.
He asked the federal government to immediately meet the demands of the protesters to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the country.
Jonathan also asked young Nigerians to give peace a chance especially now the various allegations of police brutality are being investigated by different stakeholders.
