The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Wednesday, cautioned the federal government and its security agencies over the use of force on people protesting against hunger and bad governance during the August 1 nationwide protests in Nigeria. The rights group added that it would document all human rights abuses during the protests.
CLO stated this in a release signed by its Executive Director, Ibuchukwu Ezike. It however appealed to the protesters to conduct themselves in lawful manners, adding that the ENDSARS national protests staged by the youth across the country few years ago turned violent arising from the untoward behaviour of overzealous security officers.
It said, “We caution both parties to toe the part of peace as we will document any grave human rights infractions committed while the protest lasted. Protests across the world are legitimate and democratic expressions by the citizens against their governments in the event of implementation of wicked, heinous and anti-people policies that affect the people.”
It said the planned protests were justified because of harsh economic situations Nigerians are passing through.
According to the group, “Things have fallen apart. Nigerian families are starving. Brilliant pupils have been withdrawn from schools because of poverty. Graduates roam the streets without jobs with their flamboyant certificates. Our people die like fowls because of lack of quality hospitals, trained personnel and fake drugs while those in government run to overseas to treat malaria and headaches.
“The privileged hitherto sold national institutions and corporations like the Nigerian Airways, the seaports, railways, and the telecommunications that provided massive employment for our people to themselves, relations and associates. Agriculture that provided huge employment opportunities for Nigerians, raw materials for industries and made good returns for the running of our government has been neglected. The government has flooded Nigerian soil with Genetically Modified Crops in place of our natural, organic ones.
“Wives are leaving their marriages out of hardship to join the wolves while some families are selling their children to feed. The refineries are abandoned so that they will continue to refine overseas at larger costs to the country. Our roads have become total death traps; pensioners’ funds are stolen whereas millions of retirees have died without receiving their gratuities. The only country where snakes, rodents and cockroaches swallow money all over the world is Nigeria.”
The group therefore justified the planned protests, saying, “Nobody should expect Nigerian youth and indeed people to stand with hands akimbo and watch helplessly.”