Civil rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has accused the Nigerian state of fearing accountability and the rule of law more than it fears armed groups terrorizing citizens.

Farotimi made the comments on Tuesday during an interview on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television. He argued that the government has consistently shown hostility toward citizens peacefully demanding their rights, while remaining tolerant of violent actors such as bandits and terrorists.

His remarks follow a protest in Abuja calling for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, which was led by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday.

“I think it is easy to elicit the truth when you look at the objective realities. On October 20, 2020, Nigerians were protesting peacefully, waving flags and singing the national anthem. They were murdered in cold blood. That is the response of the Nigerian state to those demanding to be treated as citizens,” Farotimi said.

He further noted that the #EndSARS protest emerged as a response to years of brutality by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which he described as “the brutal arm of the government enforcing impunity.” Instead of addressing the grievances of citizens, the state resorted to violence.

Farotimi accused the Nigerian Police of using excessive force whenever activists such as Sowore organize protests, while remaining silent in the face of atrocities committed by bandits, terrorists, and armed militias.

“When you look at the way the same Nigerian state treats bandits, terrorists, and Fulani militia murdering Nigerians in full public view, you see complicit silence. The Nigerian state is scared of being subjected to the rule of law and being held accountable to its victims,” he added.