…Threatens Nationwide Strike If Shooting Of Protesters Continues....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday threatened to commence a nationwide industrial action, should the assault of innocent protesters by members of the Nigeria Police Force continue.
THE WHISTLER had earlier reported that the ongoing protests against hunger have turned bloody in Abuja on Saturday as one death has been recorded after police fired live bullets at journalists and protesters in their bid to disperse them from the MKO Abiola Stadium.
This is one of many deaths recorded nationwide since the commencement of the ten-day protest by hungry Nigerians, mostly youths.
In a statement sent to THE WHISTLER on Saturday, signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the congress questioned the professionalism of the country’s security personnel referring to their actions as nothing but a “Massacre of citizens”
According to Ajaero, “Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado.
“As the lead agency in internal security management, the police bear the burden of this massacre”.
Ajaero claimed unconfirmed report has placed the number of casualties since the commencement of the protest to 40 persons, but the police have claimed that just seven people have been killed since the protests against hunger commenced on August 1.
Speaking further the congress said “With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at 40+ in the two days of managing the EndHunger protest across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to call to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but Massacre of citizens.
“Kaduna State police command under the watch of Compol Audu Ali Dabigi represents the worst case scenario in which one of the fleeing protesters was heard on camera desperately appealing to deployed police personnel to not shoot until his voice was drowned by a hail of bullets with the resultant death of a protester on the spot and several injured.
“In the same breadth, Edo State Police Command under the personal command of COMPOL Funsho Adegboroye represents the best in crowd management as he could be heard interacting and cajoling the protesters and almost effortlessly bringing them under control.
“In Asokoro, Abuja under the command of Compol Bennett Igweh, protesters were heard querying why the police were shelling or tear-gassing them as they were marching solemnly without breaking a twig.
“One noticeable pattern was that once police personnel introduced violence, all hell broke loose in fulfilment of the credo that violence begets violence. We are deeply saddened by this wanton taking of life by trigger-happy police personnel.”
The congress mandated that the security personnel who orchestrated the killing of peaceful protesters be brought to book
Ajaero said, “For a start, we demand that the cops with blood stains on their hands be fished out for appropriate disciplinary action. Ditto their commanders.
“Secondly, adequate compensations should be paid to the families of casualties while the government should be responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured.
“Thirdly, all those arrested should be released immediately and unconditionally”.
On the account that the Congress demands are not met as a result of continuous attack on peaceful protesters by members of the police force amongst others, the Congress threatened to take matters into their hands
Ajaero said, “On no account again should the police use live ammunition in managing protests no matter how difficult they get”.
“In the days ahead, we look forward to a better crowd control mechanism even as the new directive from the IGP would sound to some of the personnel as a license to kill without reason.
“However, if the police in self-righteousness consider this advice as meddlesomeness and persist in their slaughter, they will be unwittingly creating a situation they were supposed to help avert in the first place.
“And we as members of organised labour will be left with no choice than the moral burden to act in protection of ordinary citizens”.
The congress further commended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national leadership for directing its human rights committees across the cities to be vigilant while urging them to see to it that no one is held against their will in connection with the protest.
