THE Oyo State chapter of the Alliance on Surviving CoviD-19 Pandemic And Beyond (ASCAB), has called on the Oyo State governor, Engr ‘Seyi Makinde to speed up the constitution and inauguration of a Commission of Enquiry into abuse of rights, during the #EndSARS protests in certain parts of Oyo State.
ASCAB, in a statement reacting to the governor’s statewide broadcast while commending the governor for his generally progressive responses such as the withdrawal of cases against #EndSARS protesters and the release of those in police custody also stated that expediting the constitution and inauguration of the Commission of Enquiry will expose the abuse of rights during the #EndSARS protests in certain parts of the state and ultimately the compensation of victims.
The statement, signed by Prof. Adenike Ogunshe, Interim State Secretary of Oyo Chapter of ASCAB, said there were four fatalities in the course of the protest of those who succumbed to the the brutality of security personnel. The four peaceful and unarmed protesters killed by security agencies during the protests in Ogbomoso include Jimoh Isiaq, 20 years old, killed on Saturday, October 10, 2020, Ganiyu Moshood, 22 years old, killed on Sunday, October 11, 2020, Taiwo Adeoye, 25 years old, killed on Sunday, October 11, 2020, and ’Pelumi Olatunji, 15 years old, also killed on Sunday, October 11, 2020.
The cases of those killed, Prof Ogunshe said, are being handled by Hussein Afolabi (Esq.) who is a member of the state’s chapter of ASCAB, while reports of grievous injuries or killings of protesters in other parts of the state are still being authenticated by ASCAB.
Prof Ogunshe noted that “in order for citizens and the Government of Oyo State to be on the same page, and our collective activities in moving the State forward to be synergistic, we must reiterate that, the use of lethal violence by the police against peaceful and armless protesters, and the public in general is, certainly unacceptable.”
She pointed out that most police arrests during public protests were often indiscriminately harmful with victims suffering humiliation and torture.
“Even, other Nations and foreign Agencies have unequivocally condemned excessive use of force by the military and law enforcement agents, in the current #EndSARS protest. In this regard, we request that the platforms for reporting past and present incidents of police brutality and injustice should be widely, and consistently publicised, and its Administrators should be required to give, at least, mandatory quarterly public reports,” Prof Ogunshe stated
Below is the full statement:
October 23, 2020
PRESS STATEMENT
ON BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ENGR. ’SEYI MAKINDE, ON #ENDSARS PROTESTS OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020, IN OYO STATE.
The Alliance on Surviving CoviD-19 Pandemic And Beyond (ASCAB), Oyo State Chapter appreciates, and has paid very close attention to the Broadcast by the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Engr. ’Seyi Makinde, concerning the #EndSARS protests of Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
We have, on a previous occasion, expressed our appreciation of Governor ’Seyi Makinde’s generally progressive public responses, since the #EndSARS protests erupted across our country, Nigeria.
We however, want to place on records, the following (our emphasis); from the Governor’s broadcast of Tuesday, October 20, 2020:
“…we have deployed members of Operation Burst to…protect genuine protesters… Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice Oyo State, has withdrawn cases against End SARS (sic) protesters and those in custody have been released.
“…Oyo State Government has set up platforms for reporting past and present incidents of police brutality and injustice.”
We have a number of observations on certain issues that arise from particular contents of these statements. We articulate the observations to create a robust popular base that will deepen justice, democracy, peace, and authentic solidarity, among our people in Oyo State, and across Nigeria.
In the first place, we need to state, for records purposes that, no public declarations by government functionaries had been made before the broadcast under reference, affirming the right of citizens to peaceful public protests, and undertaking that police will be deployed or mandated to perform the duty of protecting the right of peaceful protests. This statement came after police have killed peaceful protesters in part(s) of Oyo State.
Secondly, we appreciate the firm promise that members of Operation Burst will protect genuine protesters, and prevent what the Governor, His Excellency, Engr. ’Seyi Makinde referred to as, thugs and hoodlums, from taking over the protests. We though, are very concerned that, in spite of the now fully established rights of citizens to protest, evidences were mounting that certain segments of State Security, and even, private citizens were brutalising peaceful protesters. These state agents, private individuals, and even, some highly-placed government functionaries, and traditional rulers, think that protesters are criminals, hoodlums, thugs and miscreants! We heard and read these epithets, freely used by some media and supposed community leaders; following the police killings of protesters in Ogbomoso. Beyond all of these, ASCAB Oyo State Chapter wants to state categorically that, as undesirable as the growing criminality in our society is, it must be understood that, thuggery, looting, and other categories of criminality are not natural; they arise from economic and social deprivation, as well as, insensitive governance of the general citizenry, rather than the act of God or the gods! And these social blights can definitely be removed!
Thirdly, we sincerely appreciate the withdrawal of cases against #EndSARS protesters by the Oyo State Directors of Public Prosecutions, and the release of those in police custody. Furthermore, in order for the citizens and the Government of Oyo State to be on the same page, and our collective activities in moving the State forward to be synergistic, we must reiterate that, the use of lethal violence by the police against peaceful and armless protesters, and the public in general is, Certainly Unacceptable. Most police arrests during public protests, are also always often indiscriminately harmful, and victims suffer humiliation and torture. Even, other Nations and foreign Agencies have unequivocally condemned excessive use of force by the military and law enforcement agents, in the current #EndSARS protest. In this regard, we request that the platforms for reporting past and present incidents of police brutality and injustice should be widely, and consistently publicised, and its Administrators should be required to give, at least, mandatory quarterly public reports.
Fourthly, we call on the Government of Oyo State to expedite the constitution and inauguration of its Commission of Enquiry into abuse of rights, during the #EndSARS protests in certain parts of Oyo State, especially, where violent events occurred, and the victims should be appropriately compensated.
At least, the four identified peaceful and unarmed protesters killed by Security Agencies, during the #EndSARS protests in Ogbomoso were: Jimoh Isiaq, 20 years old, killed on Saturday, October 10, 2020, Ganiyu Moshood, 22 years old, killed on Sunday, October 11, 2020, Taiwo Adeoye, 25 years old, killed on Sunday, October 11, 2020, and ’Pelumi Olatunji, 15 years old, also killed on Sunday, October 11, 2020. The cases of these massacred Youths are presently being handled by a Member of ASCAB, Oyo State Chapter, Barr. Hussein Afolabi.
ASCAB is still trying to authenticate the #EndSARS protesters killed or injured in other parts of Oyo State.
Once again, ASCAB Oyo State Chapter, appreciates the responses of Governor ’Seyi Makinde, and his entire Cabinet, in handling the #EndSARS protests in Oyo State.
On a final sad note, ASCAB Oyo State Chapter Commiserates with the Families, Friends, Colleagues, and the Entire Communities, where peaceful protesting citizens were killed or assaulted, by some security agencies.
ASCAB Oyo State Chapter feels the present pains, and commiserates with the Families, Friends, Colleagues, and the Eye Witnesses of all the massacred, peaceful and unarmed Nigerian Youths and Adults across the country, during the present peaceful #EndSARS protests.
ASCAB Oyo State Chapter STANDS TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY with the #EndSARS Movement in Oyo State, and across Nigeria.
ASCAB Oyo State insists: Only Justice can Guarantee Peace!
Prof. Adenike Ogunshe
Interim State Secretary, ASCAB Oyo State Chapter
