The United Nations on Sunday decried attacks on its assets in Calabar, Cross Rivers State. Rampaging crowd had, during the week, broken into the br
The United Nations on Sunday decried attacks on its assets in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
Rampaging crowd had, during the week, broken into the branch office of the UN in Calabar, vandalising furniture, cars and office equipment. The vandals also looted some valuables, the global agency said.
In photos posted by the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, via his verified Twitter handle @EdwardKallon, the suspects are seen removing a spare tyre from one of the global agency’s vehicles.
Kallon, in a tweet on Sunday, said, “The @UN_Nigeria strongly condemns attacks on its assets in Calabar by vandals who were out to discredit the peaceful protests to end police brutality. I call on youths to exercise restraints and engage in dialogue with the government on their legitimate demands.”
The UN had, on Wednesday, called for an end to reported police brutality and abuses and condemns the violent escalation on 20 October in Lagos, which resulted in multiple deaths and caused many injuries. A statement signed by the spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, noted that the Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
“He calls on the Nigerian authorities to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable. The Secretary-General urges the security forces to act at all times with maximum restraint while calling on protestors to demonstrate peacefully and to refrain from violence. The Secretary-General encourages the authorities to swiftly explore avenues to de-escalate the situation. He reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to support national efforts towards finding a solution,” it stated.
Meanwhile, Governor of Cross River, Prof. Ben Ayade, had imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state starting from 6 pm on Friday.
