Secretary-General António Guterres, commended the government’s decision to undertake “broader reforms” in the Nigeria Police.
Guterres spoke through his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, in New York.
The UN chief said he was prepared to “accompany Nigeria in those efforts”.
He welcomed the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and urged the government to undertake broader police reforms.
The world body urged the country’s security forces to exercise “maximum restraint” in their response.
“The Secretary-General is following the protests in Nigeria calling for the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and an end to human rights violations allegedly committed by security agencies.
“The Secretary-General stresses the importance of respect for peaceful protests and freedom of assembly and calls on the security forces to exercise maximum restraint in the policing of the demonstrations.”
