The Nigeria Consultative Front, NCFront, has threatened to sue the police over the killing of 14 years old girl named Jumoke who was said to have died when the police were dispersing the crowd set for Yoruba self determination rally in Lagos on Saturday.
Although some claimed the girl was killed by a stray bullet, the Lagos State Police Command had denied being responsible.
No live bullet was used, the spokesman of the police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said.
But in its reaction to the alleged killing, NCFront said it would institute a suit against the police, just as it described the development as abuse of state power.
The suit, it said would also seek the release of the people arrested in connection with the rally.
The statement reads in part: “This act is regarded by our movement as bestial, criminal and gross abuse of state power, which shall be taken up by our legal team in Courts for the prosecution of the Police and to push for compensation and apology to the family of the girl slain by the Police during Saturday’s rally as well as the immediate release of all those arrested in connection with the peaceful agitation for self determination.”
The group, in the statement signed by its national secretary, Mr. Wale Okunniyi, added: “The NCFront standing legal team will also be expected to defend all peaceful protesters and citizens illegally arrested and detained by the state as well as put up charges against the various abuse of powers by the Federal Government, especially at the International Court of Justice, ICJ in due course as state security forces are not expected to act as bandits but protectors of citizens rights.”
The group said citizens did not require police permit to hold rallies and protests to express their aspirations and grievances but mere notice of protest to obtain police protection as it said the organisers of the Lagos rally did on Thursday.
The group said the use of brute force to repress and quell self determination agitations in the country was counter-productive and might lead to violent struggle and anarchy experienced in other climes.
The statement further reads: “Finally, the NCFront will like the Buhari government to note that nothing could best restore peace and stability to the country as much as the immediate convening of a people’s constituents’ assembly and the conduct of a citizens’ referendum to democratically decide how Nigerians want to harmoniously coexist and constitutionally run their political affairs peacefully; as the ongoing constitution amendments by the National Assembly can barely save the country from pervasive insecurity and anarchy rocking the nation’s stability without fundamental agreement of the peoples of Nigeria.
“For the avoidance of doubt, self-determination or even secession are universally recognized inalienable rights of homogeneous indigenous peoples anywhere in the world and can be normally activated and attained democratically, through peaceful Plebiscite and Referendum. Therefore, yearnings for these rights should not be allowed to degenerate into violence and anarchy in Nigeria. What Nigeria requires urgently is national equity and reconciliation to stem the growing political tension and pervasive insecurity in the country. The Federal Government will do well to support the ongoing process initiated by the NCFront to save Nigeria.”
