President Muhammadu Buhari has asked parents and
guardians not to encourage their children and wards to partake in
the nationwide looting, destruction of
property.
“Families must turn back children who bring home unaccounted
goods, in the same way, wives must ask their husbands to return
looted items brought home,” the President said.
This statement is coming just as the judicial panel of inquiry
set up by the Lagos State Government and other states start sitting
on Monday to look into the pillage that ensued following a rather
abrupt halt to the #EndSARS protests across the country.
President Buhari in a statement on Sunday expressed his full
support and optimism that it will assist the nation to give justice
to peaceful protesters who lost their lives, security men who were
murdered, and property owners whose assets were vandalized and
looted.
The President, who said he had all along avoided going into a
debate about the Lekki Toll Gate incidents until all the facts are
established, appealed to the people all over the country to
maintain peace and brotherhood as the machinery of the government
and the wheel of justice turn against the perpetrators of murder,
arson, stealing, rape, assault and malicious damage to public and
private property.
The President advised that peace, brotherhood, and
inter-communal harmony are central to our ethos and urges Nigerians
“not to turn against one another in hate.”
He said it is important that the police and other security
agencies move everywhere to restore calm and normalcy as quickly as
possible.
President Buhari said his administration is working hard through
many pragmatic ways to reduce the hardship of the millions of
unemployed, poor citizens and those whose lives have been thrown
into disarray by the harsh economic effects of the COVID-19
pandemic.
He warned that resort to widespread attacks and the organized
looting and plundering of public and private property in many
states are inimical to the public good and stand condemned.
“A government that has launched a massive crackdown on
corruption, brought in strong laws for a decisive battle against
corruption, pursues loot recovery at home and abroad, and taken
strong decisions against those who thought they were above the law,
will not fold its arms when an otherwise legitimate and peaceful
protest is turning into free-for-all vandalism and looting.
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“While the administration has, for its part, blocked so many
means of looting public money in a war against corruption, it is
the expectation that all civil authorities, community, and
religious leaders in the country must rise against the organized
looting and plunder we are witnessing in parts of the country.
“Families must turn back children who bring home unaccounted
goods, in the same way, wives must ask their husbands to return
looted items brought home.
“What is more, is that criminal actions as we have so far
witnessed can weaken and erode the confidence of our people and
that of foreign businesses in investing in the economy. Looting and
vandalism will hurt trade and investment growth in our country,
both large and small industries, as well as our hardworking people
in the informal sectors of the economy.
“These incidents do not reflect well on any society. They are
wrong and condemnable and should not be supported by reasonable
members of society,” the statement partly read.
In line with this, President Buhari commended the decision of
the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to prosecute 229 suspects
arrested by the police for allegedly using the #EndSARS protest to
destroy and loot public and private property.
The President said he and his administration have taken note of
the grievances of the people.
“We have heard you loud and clear,” he said.
President Buhari added that his administration has shown a clear
determination to take all necessary measures to address the
complaints.
He however stressed that “the violence must stop”.
President Buhari also condemned hate messages and eviction
notices to ethnic and religious groups asking Nigerians to take
pride in the fact that our diverse people have been living with one
another in harmony for ages.
He said the right of all citizens to live and work in any part
of the country is a constitutional right and will be defended by
the government.