#EndSARS: Women group condemns killing of youth protesters
…Expresses concern over Nigeria’s future
Razaq Bamidele
An all women Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Stand-up for Women Society (SWS), has expressed concern about the incessant killing of unarmed youths in many parts of the country for staging peaceful protests over increasing police brutality which has gone viral.
The group, in a statement signed by its National President, Mrs. Deborah A. Ijadele-Adetona Esq, lamented that, some of the protesters were shot dead, while many sustained varying degrees of injuries, saying, “We should realise the future of the country lies in the hands of the youths and they cannot remain silent because they have the constitutional rights to protest and demand for what they believe will bring a better Nigeria they all dream of.”
The Standup for Women Society (SWS), according to its President, is an organisation with the aim of speaking with one voice to demand for women’s rights from the general public, corporate bodies and government at all times and all level to ensure that their voices are heard.
Ijadele-Adetona, a lawyer, also reminded that Nigerian youths have the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly including right to life, right to dignity of a person as well as freedom of expression, regretting that killing them in the process is depriving them of their constitutional rights, which is injustice to them.
“We therefore join other Nigerians to condemn the incessant intimidation, unlawful arrests and detention, extortion, harassment and killings of Nigerians in the on-going protest over Police brutality.
“The killings have rather showed how brutal the security operatives have been.
“These are those who were expected to protect the youths, but rather allowed the armed thugs and hoodlums hijack the peaceful protest which led to chaos, loss of lives and properties in the affected states particularly, Lagos State,” the group stated.
Though, the NGO appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for addressing the nation, it expected him to immediately call on the aggrieved youths as a father towards ensuring that their demands are met and douse the tension the on-going protests have generated, expecting Mr. President to commensurate with the families of the bereaved and find a way of compensating them as well as granting the departed befitting burials.
The statement read further that, the youths must be inclusive in governance as a way of giving them sense of belonging and a voice to speak, demanding that government should take a critical look into the advice of the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo towards finding a lasting solution that would enable the country move forward.
“As we commend the boldness of the Nigerian youths who came out to demand for their rights for a better Nigeria, they should remain peaceful in their agitation and keep alive the struggle for a just, equitable and inclusive Nigeria.
“Sanctions should be deployed against public officials particularly the security personnel who are expected to protect the people, but violated the Nigerian constitution by assaulting the rights of the youths,” the statement concluded.
