Solidarity with Nigeria

Auckland: Dozens of New Zealanders gathered in Aotea Square on Saturday afternoon to stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters in Nigeria battling against police brutality and corruption.

The protests in Nigeria began earlier this month with mostly young people demanding the scrapping of a police unit, the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS).

The unit was dissolved days later, but the protests continued, demanding broader reforms in the way Nigeria is governed.

Protests escalated after a shooting in the nation’s biggest city, Lagos, on Tuesday, when Amnesty International said security forces killed at least 12 people. Nigeria’s army has denied any involvement.

Yesterday’s EndSARS gathering in Auckland included sportspeople such as UFC middleweight Israel Adesanya, who was born in Lagos. — RNZ