Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, said on Thursday that she has been monitoring ongoing attacks against #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria.

Ms. Bensouda’s comments came shortly after Nigerians began writing petitions to ICC and other international bodies, demanding urgent investigation and prosecution of Nigerian government actors suspected of crimes against humanity.

“My office has been closely following the events around the current protests in Nigeria and the reaction of Nigeria’s law enforcement and security agencies.

“Any loss of life and injury is concerning. We have received information alleging crimes and are keeping a close eye on developments, in case violence escalates and any indications arise that Rome Statute crimes may have been committed. I call for calm and restraint,” Ms Bensouda said in a statement published on Twitter by ICC Thursday afternoon.

At least 68 people have been killed since sponsored thugs and security agents started attacking citizens protesting against police brutality two weeks ago, many of them shot dead by police and soldiers.

On Tuesday, soldiers fired at protesters in Lagos, killing at least nine as they chorused the national anthem by a toll-gate.

President Buhari has continued to call for calm in press statements, although Nigerians demanded that they want to hear from him in a live video address.