Kemisola Oye
HUMAN rights crusader, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned the alleged killing of travellers in Uromi, Edo State even as urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, provide adequate security to secure all roads to enable Nigerians to move freely in the country.
He also called on the government to prosecute the killers of the 16 people travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Eid-el-fitr festivities. The travellers were reportedly lynched and their bodies were set alight by their assailants at Uromi, Edo State.
Speaking on the unfortunate incident yesterday, Mr Falana said that there was a need for the government to put in place measures to end the extrajudicial killing of citizens by security forces and non-state actors.
Mr Falana, who is also the chairman of Alliance on COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), condemned the dastardly attack and the cold murder of the 16 travellers even as he called on the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and the Edo State government to speed up the investigation and prosecution of the suspects.
“The Attorney-General of Edo State must bring down the full weight of the law to serve as a deterrent to other perpetrators of jungle justice in the land.
“However, in view of the fact that over 500 unarmed people have been killed by perpetrators of jungle justice in the last ten years, the condemnation of the barbaric killing of the travellers by the Federal Government will not be sufficient.
“As a matter of urgency, the Federal Government should secure all roads to enable Nigerians to move freely in the country while measures are put in place to end the extrajudicial killing of citizens by security forces and non-state actors. In addition, all authorities and public officers should stop the resort to self-help.”
He, therefore, called on all authorities and public officers to stop resorting to self-help in all cases and circumstances.
Eighteen-Eleven Media