By JOHN ONAH, Abuja
Former Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) Governorship candidate in
Bayelsa State, Mrs Seiyefa Fetepigi Eches condemns in strong terms the
killing of peaceful protesting youths in Lagos and other parts of the
country over Police brutality.
According to her, it is offensive and wicked to murder unarmed
protesters in cold blood for fighting for their right to live
unmolested by security operatives.
“All lovers of democracy should condemn this reign of terror in
Nigeria and bring to book the perpetrators of this heinous crime
against humanity.
Nigeria is neither a police state nor a banana
republic where citizens can be killed with impunity for expressing
genuine objections to police brutality against them”, she said.
“My heart bleeds as l see pictures and videos of vibrant, agile and
energetic young men and women being slaughtered by their own security
forces for daring to demand an end to police brutality, oppression,
subjugation and intimidation”.
She noted that in advanced democracies security agents provide cover
to protesters, but however regretted that reverse is the case in
Nigeria where they are killed for speaking out against dictatorship
and bad governable as if they are living in animal kingdom.
“I demand an end to the retrogressive and reactionary forces that
impede our frail democracy. Nigerians have a right to protest
peacefully, it is their inalienable right as obtainable in all
democracies”.
Eches therefore urged the federal government to address the
protesters’ demands and faithfully implement them to dispel their fear
that if they leave the streets their demands will be abandoned.
“My heart goes out to the families that lost their children in this
dastardly act and pray to God to give them the fortitude to bear the
irreparable loss and speedy recovery to the wounded”, she added.
“The perpetrators of these cowardly attacks should be prosecuted immediately”.
“It is painful that these youths were gunned down holding Nigeria
flags in their hands some singing the national anthem. It is indeed a
sad day for Nigeria. May their patriotic souls rest in peace. For the
rest of us the struggle to build a strong, virile, prosperous,
equitable and decent democratic nation continues.