Actually, I spoke to the Foreign Sec about #EndSars last week and also to @JamesDuddridge, Africa minister. We’ve been on this saga loooong before the protests started. Can’t do this in a single tweet so here’s a thread ...(1/5) https://twitter.com/doubleeph/status/1317404674475978752

UK govt supported a roundtable meeting on FSARS reform back in 2018 and helped the National Human Rights Commission to hold a public hearing on FSARS abuses in 2019....(2/5)

Our High Commissioner, @CatrionaLaing1 has supported calls for police reform, asked the security services to respect the right of Nigerians to protest peacefully and directly raised these issues with the Nigerian govt. UK govt welcomes @MBuhari’s decision to disband FSARS. (3/5)

But as you and I know, the problem is much deeper than this. Back in 2006, On a DfID review, I learned of some appalling human rights abuses. Young men picked up by police and kept in jail for many years, not just without trial but **without being charged**. AWFUL stuff. (4/5)

I have friends and family out there taking part in these protests and get day by day updates. My solidarity of course is with them. As for my own unpleasant encounters with Nigerian police...that’s a story for another day. (5/5)