Group tasks Tinubu to set up special panel to unravel brutal killing of protesters in Nigeria

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha 

South East Coalition of Human Rights has condemned in strong terms the clampdown on ‘Endbadgovernance/ hunger’ protesters by Nigerian security agencies.

The group also faulted the interpretation of holding a Russian flag by the government as a call for a coup.

The chairman of the Coalition, Dede Uzor A Uzor, in a statement signed and issued to newsmen, faulted the interpretation of holding the Russian flag as a call for a coup, asking, “When did holding a mere Russian flag turn out as a call for a regime change?”

The group argued: “Some prominent Nigerians display both Nigerian and foreign flags even in their cars, schools and houses. We want to know when a mere display of flags has become a call for a regime change in Nigeria?”

“In as much as we condemn some protesters who destroy government property, we also call for immediate removal of the Inspector General of Police for excessive use of force on the protesters by killing defenseless civilians. If it were in decent society, the IGP himself would have honorably resigned and tender an unreserved public apology”  the group continued.

The Coalition called on the Federal Government to immediately set up a special panel of inquiry to unravel the brutal killings of unarmed and defenceless civilians in different parts of the country during this protest.

In a statement in Enugu, Enugu State, the group which included, Campaign for Democracy CD South East Zone, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE) South East Traders Forum (STF) Group Against Torture (GAT) among other 56 groups, called on FG to also address the immediate cause of the protest without further delay, lamenting that Nigerians have suffered enough in the hands of heartless leaders.

The group lamented that for  20 years the FG was unable to fix the refineries and had continued to import fuel to the detriment of Nigerians.

They unreservedly condemned the persecution of Aliko Dangote for investing in refineries in his own country by the enemies of progress in Government.

“FG should protect the company because the cabals are afraid of losing the opportunity to make billions of naira from fuel importation into the country.

The Coalition called on FG to tell Nigerians how much it has saved on subsidy money because, during former President Sani Abacha’s regime, he set up the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), which used money realized from subsidies to drastically address the infrastructural deficit in the country which made a serious economic impact in the lives of Nigeria.

Unfortunately, they said, nobody has been told or seen any economic gains made from  President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s subsidy removal.

“We call for the unconditional and immediate release of those arrested in connection with the so-called degrading Russian flags protest,” said the Coalition.