#EndPoliceBrutality: AAN lauds Nigerian youths, sues for peace and justice

Etim Ekpimah

ActionAid Nigeria applauds the level of resilience demonstrated by Nigerian youths within the past few weeks amidst the violence that has trailed peaceful protests, while raising their voices against injustice and bad governance.

A statement credited to the Country Director, AAN, Ene Obi, and made available to journalists, praised the resolve of the youths in remaining peaceful in making their demands despite the attacks, violence, killings, hijack of the peaceful protests by hoodlums and provocative silence of the Federal Government.

According to her, on Thursday 22, ActionAid Nigeria, like many other Nigerians watched the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari’s long-awaited speech, notably without mentioning the shooting at the Lekki-Ikoyi toll bridge in Lagos, that led to the injury of scores of protestors and deaths as reported by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

She said: “As a non-governmental organisation working to end poverty and all forms of injustice in Nigeria, we are deeply saddened and call on the President to cognise that the rights of youths have been trampled upon with the use of maximum force and military actions.

“The incident that transpired at Lekki must be investigated and those who ordered the shooting, as well as the officers who fired at peaceful protestors must be brought to book openly for Nigerians to see (#BlackTuesday, October 20, 2020).

“Commit to justice for all the victims injured and families of those, who lost their lives because of the #EndPoliceBrutality campaign across the nation. Give clear-cut responses to all demands of the protestors. Provide definite timelines for government’s response to youths’ demands.

“Investigate those who smuggled hoodlums to disrupt the peaceful protests, attack their fellow citizens and destroy properties. (Government at all levels must allow youths to stand united for the country and desist from using young Nigerians for political gain).

“ActionAid Nigeria also calls on all State Governors to sue for peace by recognising all the lapses in the Presidential speech for prompt enforcement.”

She added that AAN, as a development partner in the forefront of achieving social justice in Nigeria, it renews its commitment to support young Nigerians to take their space and ensure good governance in Nigeria.

Obi, however, urged the youths to organise peacefully and sustain the momentum of their quest for a participatory, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective, and inclusive governance that follows the rule of law.