The UK parliament has voted in favour of the government considering imposing sanctions on Nigerian officials involved in the alleged excessive use of force on peaceful protesters during last month’s anti-police brutality demonstrations. Also,The Nigerian Army has stated that the alleged massacre of protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza is untrue.The non-binding resolution was a result of a petition brought before the UK parliament, a petition signed by over 220,118 individuals in the United Kingdom, asking the UK Government to sanction Nigeria for alleged violations of human rights.The Nigerian authorities have continued to deny that security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters.

Consequently, the Petitioners called for an independent investigation into abuses and urged the British government to target Nigerian officials who are implicated in the shooting dead of peaceful demonstrators during last month’s protests against police brutality.

The MPs repeatedly mentioned the alleged use of force by the military on protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

They also condemned the freezing of protest organisers’ bank accounts and stressed that the right to peaceful protest was a key component of democracy.

An MP, who was speaking on behalf of the British Minister for Africa, embraced Nigeria’s decision to investigate alleged rights violations and the disbandment of a notorious police unit – the Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS].