Nigerians protest killings, ask Buhari to end avoidable deaths

Some Nigerians took to the streets of Ibadan, Oyo state, on Saturday, to protest the incessant killings in various parts of the country.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to end “avoidable deaths” and to also ensure justice for those killed.

In 2018 alone, hundreds have been killed in various crisis situations, including attacks by suspected herdsmen, bandits and armed robbers.

The latest of such killings was in Plateau state where at least 100 persons were killed when suspected herders invaded some communities in the state.

Addressing journalists, Emitomo Oluwatobiloba, convener of the protest, said some of the factors leading to the killings “were seen coming but no effort was made to avert them.”

“Today, we mourn these people who will no more see the sun amble out of the sky in the morning to lose itself into the horizon in the evening; hear joy in the laughter of their beloved; and complain about inadequacies,” she said.

“Fatalities such as the one we’ve experienced did not have to happen; measures could have been taken by both the government and people to prevent them.

“No sane man watches a house burn few blocks away and goes to sleep.”

She added that the right to life is fundamental, and it is the duty of the government to ensure the safety of its people.

“We enjoin the government to employ every tool at its disposal to investigate the genesis and pattern of this death toll, prosecute the perpetrators, and formulate measures that will prevent a reoccurrence,” Oluwatobiloba said.

The protesters also sensitised road users on safety measures and the need to obey traffics laws.

On Saturday, Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police ( IGP), directed commissioners of police in state commands to be on red alert over the killings recorded in some parts of the country.