TT-based Nigerians protest police killings at home

THREE Nigerian men living in Trinidad joined in solidarity on Wednesday with protesters in their country and around the world against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a Nigerian special police unit.

They chanted peacefully outside the Nigerian High Commission in St Clair for the removal of Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari and the disbandment of SARS.

"Nigerian lives matter. We are the future of Nigeria. Stop killing us," they cried.

SARS was formed in Nigeria in 1984 and recently sprang into the spotlight after accusations of brutality, unlawful killings and abuse of power against innocent citizens.

In June, Amnesty International released a report that documented at least 82 cases of torture and executions committed by SARS over a three-year period.

Protests then became widespread, after a video was circulated which appeared to show SARS officers shooting and killing a man in Delta State, south Nigeria. Nigerian authorities maintain the incident never happened.

Since protests started, casualty numbers have been difficult to confirm, but by Tuesday, Amnesty International said there was credible evidence protesters had been shot dead. Witnesses say at least 12 people were killed.

The three Nigerians in St Clair held placards with messages against the police unit and the government of Nigeria. They sought an audience with the ambassador, Jika Ardo Hassan, who was not there, but spoke briefly with the embassy's chargé d'affaires.

The men began their demonstration after 12 pm, and although the high commission's representative asked them to leave, they said they would not do so until 1 pm. There was no further incident.

Speaking with the media, an impassioned Oluwa Seui said, "The time has come and I'm sure the Nigerian government and the system can see now; this has never happened in the history before where the youths (have) come together to protest injustice.

"The (SARS) has been killing Nigerian youths (for) decades.

He lamented the low minimum wage in Nigeria, saying while the lowest paid earn under US$100 a month, members of the House of Representatives there can take home up to US$75,000, A recent report in the Nigerian media, however, said members of the House of Representatives earn closer to 9.3million naira (approximately US$24,380).

"This," Seui said, "could not be justified in a land that has all things flowing with milk and honey. And I see now that Nigerian youths are not going to take it any longer."

But, apart from the disparity in the quality of life among Nigerians, they complained that even those who are young and prosperous are still targeted by the police.

"If you have a good phone, you are a fraudulent person. It's crime to have a big phone. It's a crime to have a big car, once you're a young person."

"In all that is going on, the president has not come out to address the people. Not even once.

"We have a president who cannot lead the nation, cannot come out and speak to the young people. That is a disgrace and shame on him. You don't put on live rounds of ammunition on unarmed protesters. It is genocide."