South-east reps seek prosecution of those behind violence during #EndSARS protests

The south-east caucus in the house of representatives has called for the prosecution of all those behind acts of violence during the demonstrations against police brutality.

Some Nigerians took to the streets for 12 days to campaign against police brutality.

However, the protests were hijacked by hoodlums which led to a breakdown of law and order in the country.

In a statement on Sunday, the lawmakers said the call for better policing should not be “frittered away on the altar of needless violence and destruction of lives and properties, including attacks on the police”.

They said ethnic sentiments should not be raised when there is an opportunity to address a salient problem such as police brutality.

“We demand that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts are identified and brought to justice,” the legislators said.

“We condemn the wanton destruction of properties and businesses, including the palaces of our revered royal fathers. Such should have no place in a civilised and democratic society.

“We equally express our collective displeasure at the attacks on law enforcement officers and police formations, bearing in mind that demoralising the police as an institution and destroying available security infrastructure would only put the society at greater risks and equally defeat the altruistic purposes that underlined the EndSARS protests in the first place.”

The south-east lawmakers said all Nigerians should be united in addressing the concerns raised during the protests.

“Also, having made their voices heard loudly and clearly, we plead with the youths to embrace dialogue with various levels of government in addressing the weaknesses in the system identified by the EndSARS protests,” they said.

“It is the best route to maximising the millage they have covered by the protests.

“We must use this moment to prove that this federation has the capacity to counsel and remedy itself. Mr President must show more leadership and must not miss this opportunity to reform policing and governance to meet the expectations of the citizens.”

Forty-three lawmakers from the south-east region signed the statement.