The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has made a strong appeal to both the Federal and State Governments to cease what it described as the “massacre” of citizens participating in the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
These protests have seen widespread participation, with citizens demanding an end to bad governance, reversal of fuel subsidy removal, and addressing the rising cost of goods and services.
In a statement issued by NLC National President Joe Ajaero, the organization criticized the deployment of security forces at peaceful protest venues, arguing that these resources should be used to combat bandits instead. According to Ajaero, it was the police who introduced violence into what were initially peaceful demonstrations.
Protests have erupted in major cities including Lagos, Oyo, and Abuja, with citizens voicing their grievances over the current state of the nation. Despite the peaceful nature of most demonstrations, incidents of looting have been reported in Kano and other northern regions, prompting police actions to recover stolen items.
Ajaero’s statement highlighted concerns about the excessive use of force by security personnel. “With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at 40+ in two days of managing the EndHunger protest across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to call to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but massacre of citizens,” Ajaero stated.
The NLC pointed out contrasting examples of police conduct in different states. In Kaduna, under the command of Compol Audu Ali Dabigi, a protester was reportedly killed by police gunfire. Conversely, in Edo State, COMPOL Funsho Adegboroye managed to control the crowd peacefully through dialogue.
Ajaero emphasized the sanctity of human life, regardless of the socio-cultural differences between states. He expressed sorrow over the deaths caused by “trigger-happy” police officers and questioned the efficacy of their training and experience.
The NLC has demanded that officers responsible for these acts of violence be held accountable and disciplined. They also called for compensation for the families of those killed and for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured.
“In Asokoro, Abuja under the command of Compol Bennett Igweh, protesters were heard querying why the police were shelling or tear-gassing them as they were marching solemnly without breaking a twig. One noticeable pattern was that once police personnel introduced violence, all hell broke loose in fulfilment of the credo that violence begets violence.
“We pause to ask, what happened to all the years of training or experience? No lessons learnt or was this a case of loss of human values on an industrial scale? Don’t our police personnel watch their colleagues in other parts of the world manage equally challenging (if not worse) situations?
“For a start, we demand that the cops with blood stains on their hands be fished out for appropriate disciplinary action. Ditto their commanders.
“Secondly, adequate compensations should be paid to the families of casualties while the government should be responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured.”
The NLC warned that continued police violence could lead to organized labor taking action to protect citizens. They urged the police to adopt better crowd control methods and cautioned that further violence would only exacerbate the situation.
“In the days ahead, we look forward to a better crowd control mechanism even as the new directive from the IGP would sound to some of the personnel as a license to kill without reason.
“We will be monitoring closely as the situation unfolds. The police as the lead-agency vested with power and authority on issues of internal security should not only lead by (a good) example but an inspiration to other services.
“However, if the police in self-righteousness consider this advice as meddlesomeness and persist in their slaughter, they will be unwittingly creating a situation they were supposed to help avert in the first place. And we as members of organised labour will be left with no choice than the moral burden to act in protection of ordinary citizens,” the statement added.
