The opposition parties in the country have strongly condemned the killings that occurred as a result of using lethal force to disperse civilians during the recent hunger protests.
In a recent report by NewsNow, it was mentioned that the police authorities are considering the trial of 1,135 demonstrators who were arrested during the protests on Monday.
Expressing their frustrations and anger, the opposition parties gave separate interviews to our correspondent.
These concerns arise following the tragic killing of a 16-year-old protester in the Samaru community of Zaria, Kaduna State.
Reports indicate that at least 18 individuals have lost their lives in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa during the #EndBadGovernance protests held nationwide.
PDP’s Warning to Nigerians
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, highlighted that the country is heading towards dictatorship.
Abdullahi emphasized that the violence against peaceful protesters could have been prevented if Nigerians had heeded their warnings about the current administration.
He warned, “The actions of silencing dissent and coercing innocent protesters show a dangerous slide into dictatorship. The consequences of bringing the APC to power and potentially having Bola Tinubu as president, as we had cautioned before the elections, are now manifesting.”
Labor Party Condemnation
Yunusa Tanko, the chief spokesman for Labor Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, echoed similar sentiments.
Tanko expressed outrage over the killing of the teenager in Kaduna, questioning the use of lethal force against a young boy and condemning the violent act.
He shared, “The indiscriminate use of force against peaceful protesters is unjustifiable. Resorting to live ammunition when non-lethal methods could suffice is unacceptable.”
NNPP’s Call for Security Agent Reorientation
The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, urged for a shift in the approach of security agents, particularly during protests and riots.
Johnson stressed the need to prevent situations like protests escalating into fatal outcomes due to mishandling by those responsible for citizen protection.
He remarked, “We fail to value lives even in a democratic setup. It is imperative for the police to undergo reorientation and embrace modern techniques for crowd control.”
APC’s Stance on Arms Deployment
On the other hand, the ruling All Progressives Congress called for caution in handling protests.
In an interview with PUNCH Online, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, acknowledged the inappropriateness of introducing live ammunition during peaceful demonstrations.
He clarified, “While lethal force should not be applied in peaceful protests, it may be necessary if lives are threatened and security agents come under attack. The use of equivalent force for self-defense is permissible under such circumstances.”