LAGOS/Nigeria: The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has slammed the federal government for its inability to curtail the activities of herdsmen and criminals who unleashed mayhem on Nigerians in Rivers, Benue, Kaduna and Kwara States on January 1, 2018.
Speaking on the New Year catastrophe, president of CDHR, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu blamed the government for this and other avoidable deaths across Nigeria.
He wondered why citizens of Nigeria are daily exposed to preventable dangers and cheap deaths in a country governed by law.
“If the protection of lives and property are the primary responsibility of government, then this government is failing in its duties. In fact, the Federal Government under Buhari has a duty, pursuant to Section 14, Sub Section (2) (B) of the 1999 Constitution to ensure that the welfare and security of every Nigerian, particularly the vulnerable, remain the primary purpose of government. In addition, these wanton and extra judicial killings are in direct breach of Section 33 of the constitution which guarantees the rights of Nigerians to life as protected also under numerous other international legal instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.
“As rights group, we are deeply worried by this awful and recurring killings of innocent Nigerians by criminals who think they are above the law. Our position on safety and national security is consistent. No nation can make any meaningful progress in an atmosphere of fear and hopelessness.
“However, our biggest fear is that Nigerians are gradually being pushed to the wall by these unwarranted and endless killings. And except something is done urgently, the consequences may be too costly for the entire nation.
“For citizens whose Yuletide was marred by acute shortage of petroleum products, leading to endless suffering, Nigerians must brace up and demand leadership from their elected representatives.
“Unfortunately, matters appear to have been made worse by the uninspiring New Year address of President Muhammadu Buhari to the nation. The president’s opposition to restructuring, devolution of powers and other burning issues that unite the generality of the masses obviously is a sign of the things to come.”
“This is therefore a clarion call to all men of goodwill to join hands and save their country before it is too late”.
