By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A Non-Governmental-Organisation (NGO) under the auspices of Peace Action Coalition (PAC) in collaboration with other human rights groups recently took to the streets of Lagos to protest against the alarming and unwarranted killings and bloodshed across the country by normadic Fulani herders
The walk protest tagged ‘Stop the Killings, Walk for Peace’ took the protesters from Maryland Bus-Stop through Obafemi Awolowo Way to the Governor’s office in Alausa, where a letter was presented to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for delivery to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Other groups that joined in the protest were Builders of New Nigeria and International Organisation for Peace Building and Social Justice.
Addressing protesters on the essence of the protest before the ‘walk’ began, the coordinator of the coalition, Dr. Richard Ikiebe, said that Nigeria currently and practicably in danger, and so is the safety, adding that the worrisome situation has implications for the security and stability of the West African sub region, Africa and Europe. He stressed the need for government to give priority to the need of the armed forces.
“Stop politicizing the security situation of the nation for the safety of lives and properties.
“Since 2011, about 6,000 Nigerians have been killed, but in 2018, over 1,107 people were killed in the first four months.”
Ikiebe expressed that the perceived duplicity of the Nigerian security agencies had made it difficult for the locals to trust the government in the crisis.
“The peaceful walk is to call the attention of governments and stakeholders to put an end to the bloodshed.
“We speak against the continuous killings which have assumed a desperate and frightening dimension in the country, it can no longer be ignored.
“We believe the urgent and timely intervention will reassure our disturbed, dismissed and distressed populace that there are still people who are resolute and committed to the New Nigeria dream.
“This will mark the beginning of active constitutional commitment to the stoppage of all the mindless bloodletting that have now aggressively overtaking the land and threatening to consume the entire nation.
“We are ready to inspire support for safety, security, and stability which would create a better and greater Nigeria.
“Stop the Killings Project, therefore is a program designed to raise an alarm, draw the attention of all stakeholders to the brewing catastrophe and make a desperate on all the people of the world both Nigerians and non Nigerians alike to rise up to intervene and save Nigeria from degenerating into a failed state.
“We must save Nigeria to save the world. Time to rise to save our dear county is now”
Also addressing the coalition who marched to the Governor’s office in Alausa, Mr Yinka Quadri, expressed that “our land have practically turned to a cemetery, every corner is filled with bloodshed; this is wrong and must stop.”
“Recently over 200 soldiers were killed by some supposed faceless militias, this is unimaginable and unacceptable.
“Nigerians have come of age, we will from henceforth insist on not taking anything that is less than the best from anybody that is desiring to rule us
“Nigeria is in crisis, we cannot pretend otherwise, Nigeria is bleeding, we need to rise up to save the nation,” he stressed
The protesters who wore black T-shirts and caps as a sign of mourning and sobber, carried banners, placards and handbills with inscriptions such as “stop the killings and stop the bloodshed”: “Nigerian lives matter”.
Others are; “Let peace Reign,” “Enough of violence, Save Humanity,” “We are tired of Bloodshed,” and “We want a Better Nigeria ”.
At the Lagos State House Secretariat, Alausa, Mr Bejamin Olabinjo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, received the protesters’ on behalf of Governor Ambode.
He pointed out that the killings in the country is also happening all over the world and urged everyone to assist the government by passing information and ideas.
He noted that the security unrest has affected Lagos State majorly which has led to the increase in population in recent times.
“In 2018, Lagos State budgeted for 20million people but by the middle of the year, the state is catering for 26million population due to influx from other states.
“Be reassured that Lagos State is taking the matter of the killings and insecurity seriously.
“We are trying our possible best to make life easy and better for all Lagosians and the nation as a whole,” he said.
Amongst some of the demands by the coalition to the Federal Government are:
The need for an urgency without regards to religious or ethnic affiliation for a guaranteed assurance of security, safety and protection on the right to life for all Nigerians.
That Government should develop a diverse and comprehensive approach to security management in a manner that provides adequate resources to security forces to address the violence.
To rehabilitate all those that have suffered injustice and horrific killings in our land.
