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Friday, March 29, 2024

#SoundOff: Those Who Killed Unarmed Protestors Need To Be Prosecuted Immediately

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by Uche Durueke

I maintain that protest is an important democratic component of freedom of expression and freedom to assemble. Protest is an inalienable right of the human person. It starts from the womb. Babies kick inside the womb thereby expressing the desire to come out: inherent sense of liberty. When babies are delivered, they come out crying. This is as a result of the new environment. This is life!

The Federal Government should prosecute all security personnel involved in the recent killing of protesters and reckless shooting of the protesters. Let the protesters that come in conflict with the law, for example, if any loots, be dealt with under the due process law; not killing. The criminal intention of the security personnel becomes obvious when the protesters are not armed and are non-violent. Some security personnel kill on ground of hate camouflaged as threat to security. This is one important reason the Federal Government should always make security personnel account for killing of protesters, regardless of the cause. You don’t kill a fellow citizen who is not armed for expressing himself or herself.

Apart from the issue of human right, when the State kills any protester for a cause, the cause gains more adherents who find the justification of the cause in the Killing. The reason is usually and simply this: if they are telling lies, why is the government killing them? The agitations across the country will naturally calm, if we enthrone equity in governance – that’s providing for the basic needs of the citizens and giving the citizens the confidence and pride of being citizens of Nigeria.

I always say this: if any man or woman wishes bright future, he or she must take bright positions and take bright actions. It applies to nations too.

Uche Wisdom Durueke, Esq is president of Civil Liberties Organization, Nigeria.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

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