United States Democratic Presidential candidate, Joe Biden, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters.
Nigerians are in a mourning mood as the killing of young protesters across the country has caused palpable tension among citizens.
The Army onslaught against peaceful protesters in Lekki, Tuesday, has further sent shocks down the bone marrows. Seven persons have been reported killed with scores injured from the Lekki shootings. But unconfirmed reports say the death toll is more as the shootings happened at night with CCTV cameras and security lights turned off before the soldiers swooped on the protesters.
“I urge President Buhari and the Nigerian military to cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already resulted in several deaths. My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence,” Biden said in a statement.
“The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy.
“I encourage the government to engage in a good-faith dialogue with civil society to address these long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria,” he added.
Biden’s reaction to the killings follows an earlier call by the former US presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, asking president Buhari and the Nigerian Army to ‘stop killing young #EndSARS protesters” in the country.
