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Nigeria has not learnt any lesson”, NBA condemns crackdown on EndSARS protesters
Modupe Shodeinde
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the crackdown on peaceful demonstrators commemorating the first year anniversary of the historic events on Wednesday.
The association’s president, Olumide Akpata, in a commemorative statement, expressed regrets that the nation has not learnt its lessons from last year’s #EndSARS protest.
He said the crackdown on peaceful protesters and journalists covering the memorial protests on Wednesday at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, where soldiers had opened fire on peaceful demonstrators exactly one year ago, showed Nigeria had yet to learn any lesson.
“It is regrettable that on the occasion of the anniversary of such a symbolic moment in our nation’s history, we do not appear to have learnt our lessons as symbolised by the arrest and detention of peaceful protesters exercising their fundamental human rights, and journalists going about their lawful duties at the Lekki Toll Plaza this morning,” he said in the statement.
Akpata further called for the unconditional release of those arrested on Wednesday.
“The NBA unequivocally calls for unconditional release of all peaceful protesters and journalists arrested today and hereby mandates the NBA Human Rights Committee to immediately spring into action to ensure the protection of their rights.
“I want to conclude by honouring the memories of all those who have died due to police/SARS related brutality
The NBA also expressed regrets over the failure of the government to address the grievances that triggered the protest last year and implement the reports of the various #EndSARS panels awarding compensations for victims.
The association noted that while most of the #EndSARS panels had concluded their assignment in states such as Rivers, Enugu, Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau amongst others, “it is depressing to note that, in most of these states, the payment of compensation to victims whose petitions were established, has simply not happened.”
Apata noted that apart from Lagos State “where the panel has been most successful, in terms of the number of petitions treated, and the compensations doled out, the situation in other states has been anything but encouraging.”
This, he noted, was an indication of “the government’s less than noble attitude to the plight of citizens; part of which it may be recalled, exacerbated the protests last year.”
He urged the federal and state governments “to deploy this rare opportunity to address all pending compensations arising from the determination of the panels of inquiry and to immediately commence the process of implementation of the recommendations of the panels in their respective reports.”
Akpata said those killed at the Lekki Tollgate did not die in vain despite their unmet dream
“We are consoled by the fact that their ultimate sacrifice was not in vain. If anything, it has elicited a new national consciousness amongst the youths of Nigeria; one that would continue to be consolidated in the struggle for justice, equity, and fairness. They are the heroes of this hour. May their soul continue to rest in peace, and may their memory be a blessing to us,” he said.
