US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined other notable Americans including former president Bill Clinton, former vice-president (and presidential candidate) Joe Biden and former secretary of state Hilary Clinton in condemning Tuesday night’s shooting of peaceful unarmed protesters by soldiers in Lagos, Nigeria.
In a tweet, Pompeo wrote: “the United States strongly condemns incidents of military forces firing on unarmed protestors in Lagos.
“Those involved should be held to account under the law. We extend our condolences to the victims of the violence and their families,” Pompeo added on Thursday.
Earlier, Clinton said he was “deeply concerned over reports of violence in Lagos” and urged the Nigerian government “to engage in peaceful dialogue with the #EndSARS protestors for police reform and an end to corruption.”
Moreover, the African Union chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat in a statement on Thursday strongly condemned the killings.
“The Chairperson appeals to all political and social actors to reject the use of violence and respect human rights and the rule of law,” the statement said.
Amnesty International said in a report on Wednesday that 12 people were killed when security forces opened fire on peaceful demonstrators.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been holding talks with his defence chiefs as unrest ensued in the wake of the shooting of protesters in Lagos.
He did not mention the Lekki shootings in a statement Wednesday but issued a call for calm and vowed police reforms.
Rita Osakwe
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