The African Bar Association has said it would take immediate action against the killing of young peaceful protesters in Lagos by filing criminal complaints against the Federal Government before international bodies.
The EndSARS protest turned bloody on Tuesday as many protesters were killed in different parts of the country.
Late Tuesday, soldiers stormed the Lekki Toll gate where protesters have been camping, firing sporadic gunshots at harmless protesters. Live bullets hit many of the protesters who were seen scampering to safety. Six persons have been reported dead and many are currently receiving medical care.
While condemning the shooting of unarmed protesters by soldiers, Tuesday, the body said it would call for an international inquiry into the matter.
The association said this in a statement by its President, Hannibal Uwaifo.
According to a statement by it President, Hannibal Uwaifo: “the African Bar Association is deeply saddened by the actions of the Nigerian Government in drafting Soldiers to forcefully suppress the ongoing #ENDSARS protest in the country.
“This devilish action which has resulted in the killings and maiming of unarmed peaceful protesters in Lagos is not only a violation of international law but constitutes criminal acts for which those responsible will be held accountable in due course.
“The African Bar Association is totally disappointed in the government of Nigeria who instead of wholly addressing the germane issues raised by the protesting youths chose to adopt Gestapo tactics infiltrating the ranks of peaceful protesters with hired mercenaries and thugs who attacked the protesters in order to create a scene of chaos.
“The African Bar Association will immediately file formal Criminal complaints before appropriate international bodies to open an international inquiry into the irresponsible behaviour of the Nigerian government masquerading as a democracy.”
Also, the Nigerian Bar Association on Tuesday condemned the killing of peaceful #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at Lekki tollgate in Lagos.
The NBA President, Mr Olumide Akpata, stated in a statement told the Nigerian Army to immediately identify the soldiers who carried out the attack and dismiss them from service.
He also said the association would immediately commence legal actions against the Nigerian government and the Army at both international and local fora.
He said the suits would be initiated by the NBA on behalf of the families of the victims, “for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and the infringement of the fundamental rights (including right to life) of the affected citizens”.
He said the breach of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government “did not warrant the use of live ammunition by the Nigerian military to confront otherwise peaceful, unarmed and defenseless protesters”.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) has been drawn to the dastardly shooting and killing of #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos State by some unidentified men of the Nigerian Military on Tuesday, 20th October 2020. From news reports on the incident, many lives were lost in the attack while several others were injured during the melee that ensued. The NBA strongly condemns this act of recklessness and lawlessness by the security apparatus of the Government in what, based on reports available to us, appears to have been a carefully calculated and premeditated attack.
“The NBA states that even if the protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza were in breach of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government, such a misdemeanor or breach did not warrant the use of live ammunition by the Nigerian military to confront otherwise peaceful, unarmed and defenseless protesters. To be clear, the events of today are events that we should never see or consider as normal in any democracy.”
