President Bola Tinubu has been reported to the United Nations, UN and the International Criminal Court, ICC over killing of unarmed protesters in Nigeria.
DAILY GIST reports that the hardship protest which started on Thursday, August 1st is taking place in various part of the country
Frustrated citizens took to the street to express their grievances over the widespread hardship and hunger
Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic crises sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.
No fewer than 17 people were reportedly killed by security agents, who also arrested many protesters across the country.
Following the development, Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has reported the President to the United Nations and the International Criminal Court or ICC.
He asked them to immediately monitor the situation in order to step in.
There have been tales of woes as the protest which began on Thursday entered the third day in a bloody form
Armed policemen alongside operatives of the DSS, opened fire on innocent protesters in Abuja killing an innocent teenager, who was not partaking in the hunger strike in Kubwa while a police man was accused of pointing a gun at another teenage boy in the same place.
Also, security agencies stormed the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday to force out unarmed protesters from the stadium shooting live bullets at them, shattering a car of one of the journalists from Premium Times.
Journalists were also shot at as were protesters, forcing them to run for cover.
Similarly, there were ugly scenes in Kano where police opened fire on unarmed protesters forcing them to scamper for safety.
Eyewitnesses and video evidence showed police in full battle gear descending on unarmed protesters including women with babies in places like Plateau where a nursing mother was reportedly arrested.
Journalists have been wounded, tear gassed, kicked and bundled into police vehicles to unknown locations in places like Calabar, Cross River State, Yobe, Delta, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Adamawa, Lagos, Rivers in what human rights groups such as Amnesty International, HURIWA, religious groups have condemned as amounting to use of excessive force.
Atiku “vehemently condemned” what he called “heinous act of using live ammunition” on citizens peacefully protesting against bad governance.
He described the situation as “utterly intolerable” which he said is “reminiscent of the dark days of military dictatorship.”
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party or PDP noted that it is crucial to remind the government and security agencies of their paramount duty to ensure a safe and secure environment where citizens can exercise their right to protest without fear.
When security forces open fire on innocent protesters,” he said “they do nothing but exacerbate tensions, transforming peaceful demonstrations into chaos.
“I refuse to believe that inciting violence is the intention of our authorities,” Atiku stated.
He urged “the international community, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria and hold its leadership and security apparatus accountable.”
He reaffirmed his “counsel to protesters to steadfastly exercise their right to peaceful protest and reject any form of violence.”
Those engaging in looting and the destruction of public and private property he said must be isolated and prosecuted according to the law.
By indulging in such acts, Atiku said they undermine the legitimate protests and play into the hands of thos
