Nigerians in South Africa hit the streets of Pretoria at the Nigerian High Commission in solidarity with their patriots who have been protesting for two weeks against police brutality by the country’s police unit – Special Anti-Robbery Squard (Sars).
SARS allegedly involves itself in torture, extortion, illegal detention, killings and all forms of exploitation.
Yesterday night, live rounds were allegedly used against the protesters at the Lekki toll gate plaza in Lagos, Nigeria.
The use of live bullets and claims that some of have died as a result of has escalated the protest, but much more on social media as curfews have been imposed in volatile parts of the country.
A Nigerian businessman, Qasim Bankole who lives in Pretoria said the protest has worked as many Nigerians have now known and are able to exercise their fundamental rights against police brutality and other forms of oppression in the country.
Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) hands over a memorandum to the Nigerian High Commission today in Pretoria. NUSA also stands by the youth bak home that Says be disbanded.
Adetola Olubajo of NUSA says the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters was concerning and unacceptable.
He advocated for the reform of the entire Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
“We stand in solidarity with the protesters, and this is not the only march we are going to have, until this unnecessary bloodshed stops. We won’t stop until the demands are met and there is a clear roadmap on the changes we want to see. The army must be taken off the streets because they have no need. These youths are peaceful in their demonstrations and not at war but found themselves facing live rounds
Many Nigerians in the diaspora lend their voices to the protest, with plenty of them asking for a total reform of governance in the country.