Coalition decries spate of killings in Nigeria, calls for boycott of Democracy Day activities

Joint Action Civil Society Coalition in Ogun State has decried the spate of killings in the country, calling on the federal and state governments to expedite actions that stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

The coalition, as part of its memorial for late victims of insecurity in the country, held a rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Friday to mark the National Day of Mourning.

The coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) also called for the boycott of all activities scheduled to commemorate the 2021 Democracy Day on June 12, 2021, in protest following the deaths of victims of insecurity and the mass atrocities reportedly happening across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Barr. Kayode Aderemi noted that the country recorded an all-time quarterly high of almost 2,000 fatalities across the country in the first quarter of 2021, adding that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has failed in its responsibility of providing adequate security for Nigerians in line with the provision of the 1999 Constitution.

Aderemi further stated that the country is on the precipice of lawlessness following the extrajudicial killings by state security agents in various forms, inter-ethnic violence and menace of political cult gangs, ethnic militia which contribute to the killing of innocent persons.

Aderemi said: “Kidnapping for ransom has assumed an industrial and deadly scale never witnessed on the African continent. Our children are no longer safe in the school and Nigerian citizens and communities are now pauperised by terrorists who extort huge ransom while murdering their hostages.

“In the first quarter to 2021 (January to March), we recorded an all-time quarterly high of almost 2000 fatalities from mass atrocities incidents across the country. This week, across the 6 geopolitical zones, there were escalated combustions of violence resulting in even more deaths. Extrajudicial killings by state security agents in various forms, inter-ethnic violence; and menace of political cult gangs and ethnic militia.”

The coalition also President Buhari to end impunity for abuse of power and sectionalism through his appointments by balancing the need for competence with the federal character principle, noting that such would checkmate sectional violence.

“One of the things the president promised when he came on board in the first place was for instance the relocation of the army headquarters to the Sambisa forest. About six years down the line, nothing has been done.

“Sambisa forest has coordinates and that remains the stronghold of terrorism in the country. If that had been done for example there would have been a decimation of what we have now known as banditry and terrorism in the country and that is one of the things that can be done to ensure that insecurity ends in the country,” Aderemi said.