Global support for the #EndSARS campaign came from Canada yesterday as Nigerian-born Canadian Minister of Justice and Solicitor General in Alberta, a Canadian province, Kelechi Madu, threw his weight behind the youths protesting against police brutality in Nigeria.
Madu, who is the first Canadian of Nigerian descent to become Minister of Justice in Canada recalled on his verified Twitter handle how his cousin, Chrisantus Korie, was extrajudicially killed by the police in Nigeria in 2013.
Madu wrote, “I support the people of Nigeria as they protest to end police brutality and extrajudicial killings. My own cousin Chrisantus Nwabueze Korie was murdered by Nigerian police in April, 2013.
“Despite my best efforts, the police would not investigate his murder and did everything to obstruct. I also helped to petition a committee of Nigeria’s National Assembly to probe the killing and report back to the House within a timely manner.
“Fundamental human rights like peace, security and freedom from police brutality are universal. The Nigerian government has an obligation to protect its citizens and deliver substantive police reform.
“Changing the name of SARS and reconstituting it without significant reform won’t be sufficient to satisfy the cry of the Nigerian people for justice.
“Edmund Burke wrote that, ‘the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’.
“I encourage all Nigerians to stand up and be heard”, he said.
