Abuja. In a virtual meeting with former Nigerian leaders on Friday, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari informed that 69 people have been killed in protests against police brutality

The emergency meeting was aimed at addressing the current security situation here, his spokesman told he BBC. The former Nigerian leaders at the meeting appealed the protesters to seek peaceful means and stressed on having talks with the government to have their demands addressed.

According to an official statement released after the meeting, 51 civilians, 11 police officers and seven soldiers had been killed in the unrest which began on October 7 with mostly young people demanding the dissolution  of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The protests, however, continued even after the special police unit was dissolved a few days later and culminated after the shooting in Lagos by the security forces on Tuesday that caused at least 12 casualties according to Amnesty International.

BBC said that the president had addressed the public earlier via television, urging protesters to stop demonstrating and instead engage with the government in finding solutions.

“It is unfortunate that the initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths in parts of the country against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was hijacked and misdirected,” Buhari said while addressing the former Nigerian leaders.

President Buhari,  said his administration was committed to meeting the demands of the protesters. But he said his government would not fold its arms and allow criminals who had hijacked the protests to continue to perpetrate “hooliganism”,his spokesperson said.