Southern, Middle Belt leaders seek UN enquiry into Lagos killings

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called for a UN-supervised inquiry into the killings of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki in Lagos, describing it as a state-sponsored genocide. The forum said it is “devastated by the premeditated killings of Nigerian peaceful protesters with the kind of force that has yet to be seen […]

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called for a UN-supervised inquiry into the killings of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki in Lagos, describing it as a state-sponsored genocide.

The forum said it is “devastated by the premeditated killings of Nigerian peaceful protesters with the kind of force that has yet to be seen even against terrorist Boko Haram.”

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The forum spoke in a joint statement by Chief Edwin Clark (South-South); Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South West); Chief John Nwodo (South East); Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt).

They said Tuesday’s killings “appeared orchestrated and fangs – baring in the most despotic manner aimed at smashing the #ENDSARS protests that have been in the order of constitutionally recognized right to peaceful protests.”

According to them, the killing was a reflection of “what dictators do with ethnic militia which Buhari has turned our security forces to in the last five years which is part of his atrocities we are currently challenging in court.”

The Forum recalled that it was the extrajudicial killing of Mohammed Yusuf that gave rise to the violent Boko Haram which Nigeria has battled unsuccessfully for 10 years.

It also condemned the alleged killings of protesters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in what it called “alleged state-sponsored violence” as well as killings in other towns and cities across Nigeria.

“We frown at the killings of the unspecified number of people in state murders,” the forum said.

It however rejected the various panels set up in different parts of the country, saying, “there is no basis to get justice under this regime as all institutions that can give such are under its armpit.”

“As such, we demand a UN-supervised inquiry into this genocide,” they said.

The Southern and Middle Belt leaders stressed that the killing “is a serious crime against humanity that must not go unpunished.”

“All those who directly engaged in the killings must be fished out for punishment,” the statement added.