Email to the ICC

Subject line: The Nigerian Government is Killing Peaceful Protestors OR Police Brutality and Human Rights Abuses in Nigeria

If sending to the mail otp.informationdesk@icc-cpi.int, use this salutation:

The International Criminal Court,

Office of the Prosecutor,

Information and Evidence Unit.

Dear Ms Fatou Bensouda,

If sending to fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int,

Use this salutation:

The International Criminal Court,

Office of the President,

Attention: Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji

Dear Sir,

Body of mail:

I hope this meets you well in these trying times.

This is to bring to your attention the gross and flagrant human rights abuses happening in Nigeria daily. The rogue police unit, called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has taken to extorting, robbing, intimidating, harassing, physically and sexually assaulting, raping, and killing Nigerian youths with impunity.

In response to these, the Nigerian Youths began a series of peaceful protests, starting on Thursday, 8 October 2020. The Nigerian Government, in response to our peaceful protests, has, through its police agents, killed at least 10 innocent and unarmed citizens, including Jimoh Isiaq, Taiwo Adeoye, Moshood Ganiyat and a 10 year old boy. The Nigerian Police and SARS has also and wounded many, unduly arrested peaceful protesters, used hot water sprays and tear gas on peaceful protesters, beaten protesters, physically assaulted peaceful protesters among other abuses. Please see the numerous links below on these violations.

These gruesome acts are notwithstanding the several instances of police brutality and extrajudicial killings leading to the lives of many Nigerians, including Remi (last name unknown) (2020), Tina Nzekwe (2020), Kolade Johnson (2019), Chinedu Obi (2019), Akinola Lasisi (2019), Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo (2019), Linda Igwuetu (2018), Femi Bello (2014), Andrew Ebakabasi Mbang (2007), The Apo Six (2005), Dele Udoh (1981), and countless other unnamed and unknown victims. Please see here: https://pobinproject.com/stories/

The Nigerian Government, rather than hold the erring SARS unit accountable for the atrocities committed, has decided to silence Nigerians with a “ban” on the unit, but with expressed intent to redeploy these officers and churn out a new unit that will most likely commit the same offenses and even worse. We say this because numerous bans have previously been placed on the SARS group in 2017, 2018, 2019, and now in 2020.

Nigerian youths protested peacefully against this superficial ban. Again, we were brutalized by the police, under the control of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and members of the Army in certain states and within the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Please see the links below on these.

On Tuesday 13 October 2020, the Federal Government came up with another evasive tactic, linked to the superficial ban and a continuation of their stance to promote the brutalization of Nigerians. A “new” unit to replace the erring SARS unit was announced: the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). Please see these: https://nairametrics.com/2020/10/13/just-in-inspector-general-of-police-sets-up-new-outfit-swat-to-replace-sars/ and https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-54536327.

The peaceful protests have continued, despite these because:

The murderers of the 10 known victims killed during the peaceful protests have not been arrested or charged.
The IGP does not have control over the SARS unit because, despite “recalling” them, they are still in the streets of Nigeria, harassing and brutalizing Nigerians without recourse.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, ordered the shooting of live bullets at peaceful protesters in Abuja, FCT; Surulere, Lagos; Ajuwon, Lagos; Ogbomosho, Oyo State and so on, and no one has been held accountable for this.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has been unduly harassing actual or perceived peaceful protesters, unduly arresting and detaining them, physically assaulting them, preventing them from having access to their lawyers, also arresting their lawyers, among others. For instance, Treasure Nduka was beaten by the police in Surulere, Lagos, until she peed herself; she was stripped naked in front of male police officers for no just cause. No one has been held accountable for any of these.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has never investigated the extrajudicial killings and untold harassment of innocent Nigerians by the SARS unit and has expressed no indications to do so.
The families of the victims killed during the peaceful protests, including the families of Jimoh Isiaq and Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, both bystanders, have not been compensated.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has lost control of the entire police force. He must be brought before the ICC and held accountable for his actions. He must answer to these crimes against humanity, which are contrary to the letters of the Rome Statute.
On 14 October 2020, the Nigerian Government hired thugs with arms to protest for the SARS unit (ProSARS) and attack peaceful protesters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos.
The Nigerian Government has continued to remain malicious and suppressive of the Nigerian Youth.

The actions of the Nigerian Government have violated Articles 3, 5, 9, 19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which it is bound. As a result, we urge you to utilize your office as protector and defender of our fundamental human rights to hold our supposed president, Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, among others, accountable to the people of Nigeria.

We urge that you take the plight of Nigerians with utmost seriousness and urgency.

Please also see links to some evidence of the human rights abuses as reported by international and local media on various platforms:

In addition to all of these atrocities, we are now under a full dictatorship rife with threats, assaults, and utilizing the government machinery to try to shut down legitimate civilian operations. The donation link used to raise funds for the peaceful protests against police brutality has been deactivated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The alternative bank account used by the Feminist Coalition through Flutterwave Inc. has also been disabled. The CBN also summoned certain staff of the company.

Please see here:

operations. The donation link used to raise funds for the peaceful protests against police brutality has been deactivated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The alternative bank account used by the Feminist Coalition through Flutterwave Inc. has also been disabled. The CBN also summoned certain staff of the company.

On Monday, 19 October 2020, the Nigerian Government released “prisoners” from the Custodial Centre in Edo State, in a bid to pin it on peaceful protesters. The “escaped convicts/prisoners” were spotted carrying suitcases, wearing headphones, using belts which are not allowed in the prisons and wearing new season football jerseys despite claiming to have been locked up for years. One Twitter user alleged that a so-called prison escapee who was granting interviews is a mechanic whom she knows well.

Throughout these, SARS has still not been disbanded fully. In this video, https://twitter.com/osegun_mg/status/1318499080910348289?s=21, we see some errant SARS officials in Imo State, Nigeria claiming that they are still here (“we still dey”).’

During this period as well, and extending to 20 October 2020, the Nigerian government sponsored and brought ‘thugs” to cause harm to peaceful protesters in various states of the country including the Federal Capital, Abuja, Lagos, Kwara, and so on. Please see below:

https://twitter.com/exceljoab/status/1318576435599183872?s=21
https://twitter.com/bertram_hill1/status/1318248049492299776?s=21
https://twitter.com/adeyanjudeji/status/1318577033757294597?s=21

All over the country, in the FCT Abuja, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in different parts of Lagos including Surulere, Ajuwon, Lekki/Victoria Island Toll Gate, and so on, members of SARS/the Police has been opening fire at unarmed and peaceful protesters. Some videos are shown below. The Lagos State Government, through the Governor, Jide Sanwo-olu imposed an indefinite 24 hour, state-wide curfew to begin at 4:00pm around noon of the same day. Please see the announcement here: https://twitter.com/jidesanwoolu/status/1318504576937578497?s=21

The curfew was later extended to 09:00pm. At about 7:00pm, the Nigerian military, under the Command of Brigadier-General F.O. Omata released fire, automatic weapons, on protesters who were sitting, waving flags and singing the national anthem. The protesters were locked in on both sides with fire on either side. They were shot at repeatedly. Ambulances organised by private citizens were not allowed passage by the army unit. The Lagos State emergency response services refused to attend to calls to attend to wounded people as they claimed there was a curfew. It is reported that not less than 15 people died during the spate of shootings. Prior to this, the Lagos State Government and Lekki Construction Company which runs the Toll Gate had authorised the removal of the cameras surrounding the area. The lights switched off. The cell towers eventually switched off. And the peaceful citizens of Nigeria were made to sit, dying, scared, and trapped by members of the Nigerian army. The President of Nigeria, Muhammed Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff, General Buratai, the Commander in charge of the unit that massacred at the Lekki Toll Gate, Brigadier-General F. O. Omata, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu, and every member of the army who opened fire on innocent Nigerian citizens. It is reported that the military took away the bodies of dead victims.

Please see the links below:

On this same day, 20 October 2020, a Nigerian politician, Abiodun Bolarinwa opened fire at unarmed protesters and shot 3 dead, because they refused to let him speak during their peaceful protests. Please see here: https://twitter.com/sxmto_/status/1318580494112608258?s=21

We DEMAND an immediate intervention, thorough investigation, and prosecution of these offenders of the people of Nigeria.

Thank you for your time and interest.

Best regards,

[Name, if you choose]

A Nigerian Youth

MAIL TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Subject line: The Nigerian Government is Killing Peaceful Protestors OR Urgent!!!: Police Brutality and Human Rights Abuses in Nigeria

Mail addresses:

petitions@ohchr.org

ccpr@ohchr.org

Salutations:

The Petitions Team

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations Office at Geneva

Dear All,

I trust this meets you well in these trying times.

This is notwithstanding the several instances of police brutality and extrajudicial killings leading to the lives of many Nigerians, including Remi (last name unknown) (2020), Tina Nzekwe (2020), Kolade Johnson (2019), Chinedu Obi (2019), Akinola Lasisi (2019), Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo (2019), Linda Igwuetu (2018), Femi Bello (2014), Andrew Ebakabasi Mbang (2007), The Apo Six (2005), Dele Udoh (1981), and countless other unnamed and unknown victims. Please see here: https://pobinproject.com/stories/

The peaceful protests have continued, despite these because:

The murderers - members of SARS/the Police - of the 10 known victims killed during the peaceful protests have not been arrested or charged.
The IGP does not have control over the SARS unit because, despite “recalling” them, they are still in the streets of Nigeria, harassing and brutalizing Nigerians without recourse.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, ordered the shooting of live bullets at peaceful protesters in Abuja, FCT; Surulere, Lagos; Ajuwon, Lagos; Ogbomosho, Oyo State and so on, and no one has been held accountable for this.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has been unduly harassing actual or perceived peaceful protesters, unduly arresting and detaining them, physically assaulting them, preventing them from having access to their lawyers, also arresting their lawyers, among others. For instance, Treasure Nduka was beaten by the police in Surulere, Lagos, until she peed herself; she was stripped naked in front of male police officers for no just cause. No one has been held accountable for any of these.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has never investigated the extrajudicial killings and untold harassment of innocent Nigerians by the SARS unit and has expressed no indications to do so.
The families of the victims killed during the peaceful protests, including the families of Jimoh Isiaq and Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, both bystanders, have not been compensated.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has lost control of the entire police force. He must be brought before the ICC and held accountable for his actions. He must answer to these crimes against humanity, which are contrary to the letters of the Rome Statute.
On 14 October 2020, the Nigerian Government hired thugs with arms to protest for the SARS unit (ProSARS) and attack peaceful protesters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos.
The Nigerian Government has continued to remain malicious and suppressive of the Nigerian Youth.

We urge that you take the plight of Nigerians with utmost seriousness and urgency.

Please also see links to some evidence of the human rights abuses as reported by international and local media on various platforms:

Please see here:

We DEMAND an immediate intervention, thorough investigation, and prosecution of the offenders of the people of Nigeria.

Thank you for your time and interest.

MAIL TO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Email addresses:

hrwpress@hrw.org;

swedenoutreach@hrw.org

Subject line: The Nigerian Government is Killing Peaceful Protestors OR Urgent!!!: Police Brutality and Human Rights Abuses in Nigeria

Salutations:

Dear Human Rights Watch,

I hope this meets you well in these trying times.

This is notwithstanding the several instances of police brutality and extrajudicial killings leading to the lives of many Nigerians including, Remi (last name unknown) (2020), Tina Nzekwe (2020), Kolade Johnson (2019), Chinedu Obi (2019), Akinola Lasisi (2019), Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo (2019), Linda Igwuetu (2018), Femi Bello (2014), Andrew Ebakabasi Mbang (2007), The Apo Six (2005), Dele Udoh (1981), and countless other unnamed and unknown victims. Please see here: https://pobinproject.com/stories/

The peaceful protests have continued, despite these because:

The murderers - members of SARS/the Police - of the 10 known victims killed during the peaceful protests have not been arrested or charged.
The IGP does not have control over the SARS unit because, despite “recalling” them, they are still in the streets of Nigeria, harassing and brutalizing Nigerians without recourse.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, ordered the shooting of live bullets at peaceful protesters in Abuja, FCT; Surulere, Lagos; Ajuwon, Lagos; Ogbomosho, Oyo State and so on, and no one has been held accountable for this.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has been unduly harassing actual or perceived peaceful protesters, unduly arresting and detaining them, physically assaulting them, preventing them from having access to their lawyers, also arresting their lawyers, among others. For instance, Treasure Nduka was beaten by the police in Surulere, Lagos, until she peed herself; she was stripped naked in front of male police officers for no just cause. No one has been held accountable for any of these.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has never investigated the extrajudicial killings and untold harassment of innocent Nigerians by the SARS unit and has expressed no indications to do so.
The families of the victims killed during the peaceful protests, including the families of Jimoh Isiaq and Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, both bystanders, have not been compensated.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has lost control of the entire police force. He must be brought before the ICC and held accountable for his actions. He must answer to these crimes against humanity, which are contrary to the letters of the Rome Statute.
On 14 October 2020, the Nigerian Government hired thugs with arms to protest for the SARS unit (ProSARS) and attack peaceful protesters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos.
The Nigerian Government has continued to remain malicious and suppressive of the Nigerian Youth.

We urge that you take the plight of Nigerians with utmost seriousness and urgency.

Please also see links to some evidence of the human rights abuses as reported by international and local media on various platforms:

Please see here:

As an organization dedicated to the research and spotlighting of human rights abuse worldwide, we urge you to help project even further the abuse of the Nigerian citizens by its government to the world. With the peaceful protests still ongoing, many lives are at stake, and we are asking that you consider the urgency of our request.

Thank you for your time and interest.

Best regards,

[Name, if you choose]

MAIL TO AMINA J MOHAMMED

Mail address: aminaj.mohammed@un.org

Salutation:

Ms. Amina J Mohammed,

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group,

Executive Office of the Secretary-General,

The United Nations

Dear Ms. Amina Mohammed,

I trust this meets you well in these trying times.

Throughout your private and public career, including your brief stint as Federal Minister of Environment in Nigeria and your continued humanitarian work, you have been a strong voice raised to support inclusion and social justice.

We, Nigerian Youths, desperately need your voice raised to promote our human rights against our powerful oppressors.

In the quest to claim our freedom from the rogue police unit and the Nigerian Government’s neglect, we began a series of peaceful protests on Thursday, 8 October 2020. These protests have continued through major cities in the country. Nigerians in the diaspora, including in Germany, Canada, London, New York, Ireland, and so on, have also participated in these protests before Nigerian Commissions and the CNN offices.

The Nigerian Government, in response to our peaceful protests, has, through its police agents, killed at least 10 innocent and unarmed citizens, including Jimoh Isiaq, Taiwo Adeoye, Moshood Ganiyat and a 10 year old boy. The Nigerian Police and SARS has also and wounded many, unduly arrested peaceful protesters, used hot water sprays and tear gas on peaceful protesters, beaten protesters, physically assaulted peaceful protesters among other abuses. Please see the numerous links below on these violations.

Nigerian youths protested peacefully against this superficial ban. Yet again, we were brutalized by the police, under the control of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and members of the Army in individual states, and within the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Please see the links below on these.

On Tuesday 13 October 2020, the Federal Government came up with another evasive tactic, linked to the superficial ban and a continuation of their stance to promote the brutalization of Nigerians by the government. A “new” unit to replace the erring SARS unit was announced: the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). Please see these: https://nairametrics.com/2020/10/13/just-in-inspector-general-of-police-sets-up-new-outfit-swat-to-replace-sars/ and https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-54536327.

The peaceful protests have continued, despite these because:

The murderers - members of SARS/the Police - of the 10 known victims killed during the peaceful protests have not been arrested or charged.
The IGP does not have control over the SARS unit because, despite “recalling” them, they are still in the streets of Nigeria, harassing and brutalizing Nigerians without recourse.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, ordered the shooting of live bullets at peaceful protesters in Abuja, FCT; Surulere, Lagos; Ajuwon, Lagos; Ogbomosho, Oyo State and so on, and no one has been held accountable for this.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has been unduly harassing actual or perceived peaceful protesters, unduly arresting and detaining them, physically assaulting them, preventing them from having access to their lawyers, also arresting their lawyers, among others. For instance, Treasure Nduka was beaten by the police in Surulere, Lagos, until she peed herself; she was stripped naked in front of male police officers for no just cause. No one has been held accountable for any of these.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Mohammed Adamu, has never investigated the extrajudicial killings and untold harassment of innocent Nigerians by the SARS unit and has expressed no indications to do so.
The families of the victims killed during the peaceful protests, including the families of Jimoh Isiaq and Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, both bystanders, have not been compensated.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has lost control of the entire police force. He must be brought before the ICC and held accountable for his actions. He must answer these crimes against humanity, which are contrary to the letters of the Rome Statute.
On 14 October 2020, the Nigerian Government hired thugs with arms to protest for the SARS unit (ProSARS) and attack peaceful protesters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos.
The Nigerian Government has continued to remain malicious and suppressive of the Nigerian Youth.

We urge that you take the plight of Nigerians with utmost seriousness and urgency.

Please also see links to some evidence of the human rights abuses as reported by international and local media on various platforms:

Please see here:

We DEMAND an immediate intervention, thorough investigation, and prosecution of the offenders of the people of Nigeria.

Thank you for your time and interest in the plight of Nigerian youths.

[Name]

A Nigerian Youth