President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the international community and other neighbouring countries not to rush to conclusions or passing judgments on issues without verifying the authenticity of allegations.
He spoke against the backdrop of barrage of criticisms that have trailed Tuesday shooting of unarmed protesting youths in Lekki area of Lagos.
The U.S., UK, and the international community as a whole, had condemned the mayhem unleashed on Nigerians and the killing of innocent youths and called for immediate investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of the heinous acts.
In a national broadcast, Thursday, the President said government recognises that peaceful demonstrations is a fundamental right of citizens but that government will not allow any group under any guise to disrupt law and order.
He urged the youths to discontinue the nationwide protests against the excesses of the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and engage in constructive dialogue.
The president expressed sadness over the lost of innocent lives in the crises that erupted across the country following Tuesday’s shootings at Lekki, Lagos, but noted that patience should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness.
The President did not make any categorical statement on the Lekki shootings.