Civil rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, says the
Nigerian state fears accountability and the rule of law more than it fears
armed groups terrorizing citizens.
Farotimi stated this on Tuesday while responding to
questions in an interview on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels
Television .
He said that the Nigerian state has consistently
demonstrated hostility towards citizens who peacefully demand their rights
while showing tolerance to violent actors like bandits and terrorists.
His stance comes after a protest for the release of the
leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
The protest, led by activist and
former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, was held in Abuja on Monday.
“I think it is easy to elicit the truth when you look at the
objective realities. On October 20, 2020, Nigerians were protesting peacefully,
waving flags and singing the national anthem. They were murdered in cold blood.
That is the response of the Nigerian state to those demanding to be treated as
citizens,” he said.
Farotimi noted that the #EndSARS protest was a response to
years of brutality by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which
he described as the “brutal arm” of the Nigerian government in enforcing
impunity. He said rather than address citizens’ grievances, the state resorted
to violence.
He added that every time activists like Omoyele Sowore and
others organize protests, the Nigerian Police respond with “full force, always
ready to murder and maim,” but remain silent in the face of atrocities
committed by bandits, terrorists and armed militias.
“When you look at the way the same Nigerian state treats
bandits, terrorists, and Fulani militia murdering Nigerians in the full glare
of everyone, you see complicit silence by the state. The Nigerian state is
scared of being subjected to the rule of law and being accountable to its
victims,” he added.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com