Pope Francis has expressed his
concern at continuing violence in Nigeria, and appeals for social harmony in
the promotion of justice and the common good, and an end to the violent clashes.
His message came on Sunday during
the Angelus.
From his studio above St Peter’s
Square, the Pope said he was “following with particular concern the news that
is coming out of Nigeria.
“The violent clashes between security forces
and a number of young people protesting.
“Let us pray to the Lord so that
any form of violence might be avoided, in the constant search for social
harmony in the promotion of justice and the common good.”
In the latest developments,
Nigeria’s top police official on Saturday ordered the immediate mobilization of
all officers to “reclaim the public space from criminal elements masquerading
as protesters”.
His order came after days of
peaceful protests over police abuses and then violent unrest that left at least
69 people dead.
There are fears this latest Police
order could fuel further tensions after the country’s worst turmoil in years.
The demonstrations in Nigeria,
and the shootings by soldiers sparked immediate international condemnation.
The protests, which feature many
young people, began with calls for a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad (SARS), to be shut down. Now demonstrators are calling for broader
reforms in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari
disbanded the unit on October 7, which has been accused of accused of torture
and extra-judicial killings.
The new police order came as a
24-hour curfew loosened for the first time Saturday in Lagos, a city of some 20
million where wealth and poverty are in sharp contrast, inflaming grievances
over inequality and corruption.
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