The United Action For Change, UAC , a not-for- profit organization playing a pivotal role in birthing a new socio-political order in Nigeria, has condemned in strong terms the wanton killings of unarmed peaceful protesters in Lekki Toll Plaza and other locations in Lagos.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday signed by the UAC Acting National Publicity Secretary, Enitan Olukotun and Secretary General, Michael Popoola Ajayi , the group queried why lethal weapons were unleashed on the #EndSARS protesting youths when harmless rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas could have caused minimal but effective impact.
It is distressing and heart- wrenching to observe that the trigger-happy and battle-ready soldiers armed to the teeth with sophisticated war weapons with live rounds of ammunition marched towards #EndSARS protesters around 7:45 Pm Tuesday night, ahead of the curfew deadline imposed by the Lagos State Government and have reportedly continued the onslaught into Wednesday morning unabated, the statement observed.
The United Action for Change, UAC also believes that the senseless attacks and killings were premeditated and well-choreographed by the blood-sucking elements in government and their agents. If not, who ordered that lights around the Lekki Toll Plaza should be put off and surveillance cameras and giant digital advert boards switched off a few hours before the massacre?
The characteristic wild goose chase of setting up panel to investigate the genocide without tangible consequences will not fly as many discerning Nigerians know that authorities must have ordered the killer soldiers to move in and clear the youths demanding a better country.
Let us even agree for the purpose of argument that the unarmed protesters defied the curfew order, is death an appropriate penalty for defying a curfew order? On Monday, youths defied curfew order in Edo after the State Government imposed restrictions on movements, yet the government didn’t order the military and other security forces to roll out tanks to kill and maim the future of Edo. Only a depraved nation kills her young folks who are the future of the country. The same tactics, civil disobedience, that we used in birthing the current democracy that we all enjoy today is what has been deployed by the peaceful protesters. Nothing justifies opening live bullets on the protesters.
UAC therefore calls for immediate removal of soldiers from the streets and deployment of more civil approach to prevent further bloodshed while all officers and their commanders who were responsible for these gruesome killings must be made to face the consequences in law. 2 Z Y ?Ŷ
