#EndSARS: 100,000 sign petition to ICC demanding IGP prosecution

Over 100,000 people have signed a petition asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest and prosecute Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), for alleged crimes against humanity.

As of Monday night, at least 105,000 signed the petition which accused the police IG of “unleashing war” against Nigerians protesting abuse of human rights by the police.

Fresh cases of police brutality triggered protests calling for an end to the special anti-robbery squad (SARS), which has been accused of excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings.

Although the police IG dissolved the unit, protesters insist on concrete steps that would ensure the reform of the security agency as well as justice for victims of brutality.

Videos and pictures shared on social media also showed police officers dispersing protesters with teargas and live bullets.

The petition stated that at least 10 protesters had been killed in various parts of the country, and urged the ICC to order the IGP’s arrest.

“The Nigeria Police under the leadership of the IG of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has unleashed war against defenceless and innocent Nigerian youths whose only crime was demanding an end to extortion, harassment, illegal arrests, detention, and wanton killings by the rogue police unit, SARS,” the petition read.

“In the last three days, following popular peaceful protests across Nigeria, no less than 10 peaceful protestors have been reportedly shot dead, including Jimoh Isiaq, and countless others arrested and detained by the members of the criminal unit in the police while the extortions still continue unabated.

“It is on this premise that this petition seeks the support of everyone to compel the International Criminal Court at The Hague to order the arrest and prosecution of the IG of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for crime against humanity, as the head of the Nigeria Police Force that has carried out the heinous crime against youths in Nigeria.

”Earlier this year, it was reportedly that more than 50 occasions during which the police reportedly killed 92 Nigerians within one year.”