UK Government and Parliament on Thursday responded to the #ENDSARS petition by some Nigerians against the Federal government.
With about 219,702 signatures, the petition
seeks to implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials,
over abuse of power by the operatives of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery
Squad, SARS, and the alleged shooting at protestors calling for SARS
disbandment.
Reacting, UK
said it awaits the outcome of Nigerian investigations into reports of police
brutality, noting that it would not publicly speculate on future sanctions
designations.
“The UK
Government is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria,
which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families of all those
affected.
The Foreign
Secretary issued a statement on 21 October calling for an end to the violence
and for the Nigerian Government to urgently investigate reports of brutality by
its security forces and hold those responsible to account.
The Minister
for Africa tweeted on 16 October, noting the Nigerian people’s democratic and
peaceful calls for reforms, and again on 21 October, encouraging the Nigerian
authorities to restore peace and address concerns over brutality towards
civilians. He reiterated these messages when he spoke to Foreign Minister
Onyeama on 23 October. The British High Commissioner in Abuja has also raised
the protests with representatives of the Nigerian Government and will continue
to do so.
We welcome President
Buhari’s decision to disband the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and
the establishment of judicial panels of inquiry to investigate alleged
incidents of brutality by the security services. They must investigate all
incidents, including in Lagos, fully. The Minister for Africa tweeted on 29
October stressing the importance of the police and military’s cooperation with
the panels. He raised this, and the need for the panels to urgently start
investigations, when he spoke to the Governor of Lagos on 11 November.
The UK
Government will continue to work with the Nigerian Government and international
and civil society partners to support justice, accountability and a more
responsive policing model in Nigeria. We will continue to push for the Nigerian
security services to uphold human rights and the rule of law, investigate all
incidents of brutality, illegal detentions and use of excessive force, and hold
those responsible to account.
On 6 July,
the Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying
regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act
2018. In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary set out in full the
scope of the UK’s new Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the
first tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to future
designations.
This
sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those
involved in serious human rights violations or abuses. The sanctions regime is
not intended to target individual countries. It will allow for sanctions to be
imposed on individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations
or abuses around the world.
We will
continue to consider potential designations under the Global Human Rights
sanctions regime. It is longstanding practice not to speculate on future
sanctions designations as to do so could reduce the impact of the designations.
The UK
Government will keep all evidence and potential listings under close review.”
Foreign,
Commonwealth & Development Office.
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