35 Federal Lawmakers Ask Buhari to Prosecute Officers Involved in Lekki Shooting

Thirty-five members of the National Assembly have called on
President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency identify all
the soldiers who attacked peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki
tollgate on Tuesday night and prosecute them for murder.

The lawmakers made up of four Senators and 31 members of the
House of Representatives in a joint statement issued on Wednesday
demanded that the perpetrators of this dastardly act and all those
who gave the orders should be brought to account in a transparent
and accountable manner.

The Senators are Olu Adetunmbi, Opeyemi Bamidele, Tolu Odebiyi
and Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.

The House signatories include Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, Hon.
Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, Hon. Francis Waive, Hon. Peter Akpatason,
Hon. Umeoji Chukwuma, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon. Abubakar Hassan
Nalaraba, Hon Francis Ottah Agbo, Hon.

Unyime Idem, Hon. Omowumi Olubunmi Ogunlola, Hon. Ibrahim Kunle
Olarewaju, Hon. Segius Ogun, Hon. Preye Oseke, Hon. Ibrahim
Obanikoro.

Others are: Hon. Bamidele Salam, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Hon.
Nnolim Nnaji,
Hon. Benjamin Mzondu, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe, Hon. Taiwo Oluga, Hon.
Ben Kalu, Hon. Amos Magaji, Hon Olododo Cook Abdulganiyu Saka, Hon.
Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Hon. Olubukola Oyewo, Hon. Tolulope
Akande-Sadipe Oluyole,
Hon Uzoma Nkem Abonta, Hon. Satomi Alhaji Ahmed, Hon. Wole Oke,
Hon. Miriam Onuoha and Hon. Ifeanyi Chudy Momah.

The lawmakers who condemned this action by government and
security agencies, said it was inexcusable, totally unacceptable,
adding that there is no justification whatsoever for security
officials who are paid with tax payers’ money to kill unarmed
protesters.

The statement read in part; ”We the undersigned are legislators
committed to setting agenda for progressive laws in Nigeria;
initiating progressive laws and speaking against anti-people bills
in the National Assembly. We have followed carefully the #ENDSARS
protest by young people across Nigeria for the past two weeks and
the killings in several cities including Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Benin
and Lagos.”

”We note that in the recent past, this has been the most
elaborate protest that has united young Nigerians across geography,
ethnic nationality and religion. We observe that the protest goes
beyond the excesses of the police formation called Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests are as a result of
frustration by Nigerian youths who have seen governments at all
level fail to provide public goods and opportunities for them to
lead a meaningful life.

”We recognise that over the years, socio-economic indicators in
Nigeria have remained precarious. The Fragile state’s index has
consistently classified Nigeria among the 15 worst states that are
failing across the world. We are appalled by the reliance on force,
intimidation and manipulation by government and security agencies
in attempt to break the protest rather than utilising globally
recognised methods of policing in a democratic society.

”We are enraged by reports of shooting of unarmed, defenceless
protesters by military officers at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos
after the lights were turned off and CCTV cameras put off. We call
on the President to give an immediate order to all security
agencies to stop shooting at protesters. We call on the President
to address the nation and take concrete actions to respond to the
demand of the protesters. He should commit in words and action to
respect and protect the right to protest. He should publicly invite
the leaders of the protesters to an urgent dialogue while assuring
them of their safety and that outcomes would be expeditiously
implemented.

”We also condemn the attack and burning of properties of
innocent citizens and government. We call on government to respond
expeditiously to demand of the protesters and other lingering
issues of addressing the security architecture of the country and
addressing revelations of corruption in many government agencies.
As patriots, we will not keep quiet while the country is plunged
into crisis under any guise. A stitch in time saves nine.”

Thirty-five members of the National Assembly have called on
President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency identify all
the soldiers who attacked peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki
tollgate on Tuesday night and prosecute them for murder.

The lawmakers made up of four Senators and 31 members of the
House of Representatives in a joint statement issued on Wednesday
demanded that the perpetrators of this dastardly act and all those
who gave the orders should be brought to account in a transparent
and accountable manner.

The Senators are Olu Adetunmbi, Opeyemi Bamidele, Tolu Odebiyi
and Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.

The House signatories include Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, Hon.
Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, Hon. Francis Waive, Hon. Peter Akpatason,
Hon. Umeoji Chukwuma, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon. Abubakar Hassan
Nalaraba, Hon Francis Ottah Agbo, Hon.

Unyime Idem, Hon. Omowumi Olubunmi Ogunlola, Hon. Ibrahim Kunle
Olarewaju, Hon. Segius Ogun, Hon. Preye Oseke, Hon. Ibrahim
Obanikoro.

Others are: Hon. Bamidele Salam, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Hon.
Nnolim Nnaji,
Hon. Benjamin Mzondu, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe, Hon. Taiwo Oluga, Hon.
Ben Kalu, Hon. Amos Magaji, Hon Olododo Cook Abdulganiyu Saka, Hon.
Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Hon. Olubukola Oyewo, Hon. Tolulope
Akande-Sadipe Oluyole,
Hon Uzoma Nkem Abonta, Hon. Satomi Alhaji Ahmed, Hon. Wole Oke,
Hon. Miriam Onuoha and Hon. Ifeanyi Chudy Momah.

The lawmakers who condemned this action by government and
security agencies, said it was inexcusable, totally unacceptable,
adding that there is no justification whatsoever for security
officials who are paid with tax payers’ money to kill unarmed
protesters.

The statement read in part; ”We the undersigned are legislators
committed to setting agenda for progressive laws in Nigeria;
initiating progressive laws and speaking against anti-people bills
in the National Assembly. We have followed carefully the #ENDSARS
protest by young people across Nigeria for the past two weeks and
the killings in several cities including Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Benin
and Lagos.”

”We note that in the recent past, this has been the most
elaborate protest that has united young Nigerians across geography,
ethnic nationality and religion. We observe that the protest goes
beyond the excesses of the police formation called Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests are as a result of
frustration by Nigerian youths who have seen governments at all
level fail to provide public goods and opportunities for them to
lead a meaningful life.

”We recognise that over the years, socio-economic indicators in
Nigeria have remained precarious. The Fragile state’s index has
consistently classified Nigeria among the 15 worst states that are
failing across the world. We are appalled by the reliance on force,
intimidation and manipulation by government and security agencies
in attempt to break the protest rather than utilising globally
recognised methods of policing in a democratic society.

”We are enraged by reports of shooting of unarmed, defenceless
protesters by military officers at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos
after the lights were turned off and CCTV cameras put off. We call
on the President to give an immediate order to all security
agencies to stop shooting at protesters. We call on the President
to address the nation and take concrete actions to respond to the
demand of the protesters. He should commit in words and action to
respect and protect the right to protest. He should publicly invite
the leaders of the protesters to an urgent dialogue while assuring
them of their safety and that outcomes would be expeditiously
implemented.

”We also condemn the attack and burning of properties of
innocent citizens and government. We call on government to respond
expeditiously to demand of the protesters and other lingering
issues of addressing the security architecture of the country and
addressing revelations of corruption in many government agencies.
As patriots, we will not keep quiet while the country is plunged
into crisis under any guise. A stitch in time saves nine.”