The Accountable Leadership for Better Nigeria Initiative (ALBNI) has described the killings of unarmed, peaceful protesters in Lekki and some other locations across the nation as ‘barbaric, dastardly, genocidal and illegal.
A statement jointly signed by ALBNI’s Executive Director, Remi Adebayo and Secretary of the organization, Ibrahim Dan-Halilu, said official violence against defenceless protesters agitating for an overhaul of the Nigerian Police negates civility and violates the constitutional rights to peaceful gathering as guaranteed by the Nigerian law.
The group said it is saddening to note that the government has lost the opportunity provided by the protesters to look into the issues on the list of demands presented to it and take immediate remedial measures that will restore dignity and honour of our security agencies.
“We condemn in unequivocal terms the termination of lives of those youngsters in their prime by the so-called hoodlums, and call for a thorough investigation of the circumstances to unravel the perpetrators, and bring them to justice no matter their status, ranks or influence in the society.
“ALBNI will not hesitate to build a coalition with civil groups to present a formal petition to relevant global human rights protection organisation for the trial of the principal actors of the callous act and their sponsors.
“Our organization holds it to be self-evident that every Nigerian citizen has the right to hold an opinion, in support of, or against any government and its policies, actions or inactions through peaceful protests, and that right is inalienable, sacrosanct, and inviolable. The essence of every government is to protect lives and cater for the welfare of its citizens.
“We wish to remind those making these spurious claims that security agents are paid from taxpayers’ money to provide protection to all law-abiding citizens,” ALBNI stressed.
The group, further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to lead from the front as he promised during his inaugural speech, by addressing the nation on the #EndSARS protests and the measures taken by security agents in order to douse tension and reassure the citizens of his commitment to addressing the demands
made by the protesters.
