Today, 10 December, is International Human Rights Day which commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To mark the day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein took part in a programme broadcast to a world audience via Facebook, in which he took questions from human rights activists on allegations of human rights abuses across the globe.

Al Hussein agreed that the Nigerian government has been “heavy handed” in dealing with the peaceful Biafra protests saying, “we need to investigate the excessive use of force”.

He added that discussions were being held with the Nigerian authorities and the UN had “expressed concern” about the shooting of protesters.

Watch the programme

Also watch video of Amnesty International on deadly repression of pro-Biafra activists by the Nigerian government