EU Expresses Worry As Nigeria’s #EndSARS Protest Escalate Into Violence

The European Union in Nigeria, has expressed concern as Nigeria’s protest against police brutality codenamed #EndSAR on Twitter, turned violence in some part of the country.

BIGPEN reports the protest which enters day-11 on Monday resumed a dangerous dimension as some yet-to-be identified hoodlums hijacked it in Benin, the Edo state capital.

The protest on Monday took a new phase as hoodlums hijacked it in Benin, causing a massive jail break from two correctional centres in the state where a large number of inmates were freed. The hoodlums also torched a police station in the metropolis after releasing suspects held in custody.

Confirming the onslaught, the Nigeria Police Force on its twitter handle had said; “The extent of damage cannot be ascertained at the moment but the report indicates that the protesters carted away arms and ammunition from the armoury and freed the suspects in custody before setting some of the facilities ablaze,”.

This comes even as Amnesty International said that the #EndSARS had claimed about 15 lives including that of two police officer.

The EU said that it was concerned that the peaceful protests which are part of a thriving democracy, had turned violent.

One person died in the northern city of Kano on Monday while four others died in Benin City, Abuja and Osogbo over the weekend, Amnesty spokesman Isa Sanusi said in a report in AFP.

Amnesty had reported a death toll of 10 last Thursday, a week after the protests erupted.

In Lagos, home to 20 million people, thousands of people took to the streets again on Monday bringing the economic hub to a standstill.

In the capital Abuja, tensions were high after protestors said they were attacked by suspected hired thugs on Sunday.

“The Nigerian army and police are everywhere, no doubt to stop the peaceful protest,” 24-year-old demonstrator Anita Izato told AFP.

BIGPEN reports that this development are coming few days after the protesters who took to the street a week ago to campaign for the reformation of the Nigeria Police Force, and disbandment of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and justice for victims of police brutality, had forced the government to scrap the unit.

A new SWAT force to replace SARS was scheduled to start its training on Monday.

However, the EU, in a tweet on Monday, expressed displeasure with the way and manner the hitherto peaceful protest was going.

“#EU is concerned by the incidents that took place during protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Nigeria. Peaceful protests are part of a thriving democracy.

“The announcement that serious police reform will take place is an important step to secure rights of citizens”.