President calls for end to protests but fails to mention police killings
Nigerian president Muhamma du Buhari spoke to the nation about the unrest that has gripped the country in recent days, but without making any mention of the shootings of peaceful protesters at Lekki toll plaza on Tuesday night that prompted international outrage.
And a group that has been key in organising protests against police brutality has urged people to stay at home.
The Feminist Coalition also advised people to follow any curfews that may be in place in their states
The military opened fire without warning on thousands of peaceful protesters singing the national anthem on Tuesday night, killing at least 12 people, according to Amnesty International.
The shootings have been widely condemned but Mr Buhari did not speak of them at all during his address, instead urging protesters to stop their demonstrations.
“This government will not allow anybody or ( any) groups to disrupt the peace of the nation,” he warned in his televised address, urging protesters to “resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.
“For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and law and order,” he said.
“Under no circumstances would this be tolerated.”
He called on Nigeria's youths “to discontinue the street protests and constructive - ly engage the government in finding solutions.
“Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.”
Mr Buhari responded to the criticism he has received from fellow African heads of state and other world leaders by calling on them “to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position, or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements”.
Even as Mr B uh ari was speaking, ira te Nigerians flooded social media with denunciations.
“President Buhari during his
speech refused to acknowledge those dead as a result of military attacked on Lekki protesters # ENDSARS,” tweeted Usman Okai Austin.
“With this speech, it is confirmed we are on our own.”
"May the souls of our brothers and sisters who died at#Lekkimassacre2020 and other places on # ENDSARS protest rest in peace. Sad,” posted Henry Okechukwu.
The street demonstrations
began early this month with calls for Nigeria's government to shut down the Special AntiRobbery Squad, a police unit known as Sars.
The squad was launched to fight crime, but it carried out torture and killings, according to Amnesty International.
The # ENDSARS campaign spread across t he countr y a nd Buhari' s g ove r nment announced that it would disband the Sars unit.
The protest persisted with demonstrators call i ng f or more widespread reforms of the police and an end to corruption.
But on Tuesday night security forces fired without warning into crowds of thousands of protesters singing Nigeria's national anthem, killing 12, Amnesty said, citing witnesses and camera images.
Nigeria's military has denied shooting at the protesters.