The UK Parliament, on Monday, November 23, would debate a petition demanding the British Government to sanction the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for alleged human rights violations.

This announcement was made by the parliament, in a response to a petition signed by over 220,118 individuals in the United Kingdom, requesting the UK Government to sanction Nigeria for alleged violations of human rights.

According to the debate pack captioned “E-petition 554150, relating to Nigeria and the sanctions regime,” the Parliament equally referenced the shooting of #EndSARS demonstrators at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October, 2020 as one its press articles.

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The parliament also claimed that the shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate escalated into violence, and noted that it is waiting for the outcome of investigations by the Federal and State Governments into reports of police brutality and extra-judicial killings.

The statement from the parliament partly reads; “The UK Government is deeply concerned by violence during recent protests in Nigeria, which tragically claimed lives. Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected.”

“Parliament will debate this petition on November 23, 2020. You will be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel. On July 6, the British Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.

“The Foreign Secretary set out in full the scope of the UK’s new Global Human Rights sanctions regime. He announced the first tranche of designations, as well as the Government’s approach to future designations.

 “This sanctions regime will give the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses. The sanctions regime is not intended to target individual countries.

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“It will allow for sanctions to be imposed on individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations or abuses around the world.’’

In October 2020, thousands of Nigerians took to the streets and the media, protesting for an end to police brutality and extra-judicial killings by the recently disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The peaceful demonstrations were however escalated into series of violence. The violence was accompanied with arson, looting and killing of security personnel and civilians.

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