Nigeria: Human Rights

(asked on 15th October 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they intend to have with the government of Nigeria about human rights abuses in that country, in particular those in relation to police brutality, illegal detentions, and assaults carried out by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.


Answered by
Baroness Sugg Portrait
Baroness Sugg
This question was answered on 29th October 2020

In response to serious allegations against the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) in Nigeria and subsequent protests, the Foreign Secretary, our High Commissioner and the Minister for Africa have all responded publicly calling for police reform in the country and supporting the right to peaceful protest. We welcome the changes announced by the Nigerian Government in response to the public outcry, including President Buhari's decision to disband FSARS. The High Commissioner has raised the protests with representatives of the Nigerian Government and we will continue to monitor the protests closely.

We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting human rights for all. We will continue to push the Nigerian police to uphold human rights and the rule of law in all operations and to investigate allegations of police brutality, illegal detentions and assaults, holding those responsible to account. We are working with the Nigerian Government and international and civil society partners to support broader police reform in Nigeria, and we are developing proposals to support new police regulations to create a more accountable and responsive policing model in Nigeria.

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