Amnesty International SA protested outside the Nigerian high commission on Monday, demanding an end to violence in that country.
It said in a statement Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari should act to halt unnecessary killings and violence.
The protesters accused president Buhari of orchestrating violence that also led to the abduction of more than 200 girls several years ago.
An estimated 640 men were killed on 14 March 2014 by the Nigerian military at the Giwa barracks in Maiduguri, a small town in Borno province.
Activists and members of human rights group Amnesty SA came from as far as Johannesburg to take part in the demonstration.
The protesters delivered a memorandum demanding that president Buhari make good on his promise of an investigation into these killings.
They accused the Nigerian government of failing to hold those responsible for the deaths accountable.
“The killing under the president’s reign constitutes war crimes,” said Netsanet Belay, the director for Amnesty Africa.
“They are killing civilians and innocent children. The government should protect the civilians and not kill them.”
The protesters handed over the memorandum to an official, as Martin Cobham, the high commissioner, was not available.
An official refused to talk to the protesters and the media and called the police, but no arrests were made.
Amnesty international is a global movement of more than seven million people in over 150 countries and territories who campaign for an end to human rights abuses.
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