CSOs lament attacks on #EndSARS victims, witnesses

Fourteen civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday lamented attacks on the victims and witnesses, who testified before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS and Lekki Tollgate Incident.
Consequently, the CSOs asked the federal and state governments to, as a matter of urgency, protect all the victims and witnesses who testified before the nine-man panel chaired by a retired judge of Lagos State High Court, Justice Doris Okuwobi.

They expressed these concern yesterday at a new conference held at the head office of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Lagos.

Among others, the CSOs comprise the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Joint Action Front, Justice Development and Peace Commission, Great Nigeria Movement, Spaces4Change and Genesis Organisation for Protection of Rights.

Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, a representative of Spaces for Change, Zikorah Ibeh condemned in strong terms the violent and bloody attack on Kamson Ibe, which took place in the evening of November 21.

The CSOs said: “We have talked enough about the boldness and objectivity of the panel, which after a year of sitting, came out with a report that rightly indicted multiple agencies of the governments and the Lekki Concession Company.”

They lamented that the tripartite collaboration or collusion of the agencies brought about the tragedy that unfolded at the Lekki Tollgate at the night of October 20, 2020 and the morning after.
A few days ago, according to the CSOs, we were made aware of the unwholesome and cowardly attacks and warnings of doom on victims, activists, and lawyers of the #EndSARS movement.

They, therefore, condemned “most vehemently, the violent and bloody attack on Kamson Ibe, which took place in the evening of Sunday, November 21.
“Kamson was also a victim of the army and police brutality at the Lekki Toll Gate last year. Her attack last Sunday was accompanied by threats of further mayhem by her assailants against #EndSARS activists.

“On November 22, Dabira Oluwa also received a threat dropped on her car, warning that she was the next on the line to be attacked. We also note the threat of assassination against the persons of Mr. Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Wiseman Kunle.”

With the calculated attacks on the victims and witnesses, the CSOs said, the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu “has a duty to investigate the possible involvement of people close to him in the violence being perpetrated against Lagosians.
“One of these people who is said to be an aide to the governor, is said to be the coordinator of the Defend Lagos coalition, a body that is being fingered for the attack on Kamson as well as threats on activists in the state.

“We want to believe that these unwholesome speculations on the person of the governor are not true. Therein lies his credibility going forward. The credibility of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government is equally at stake over this matter.”

The CSOs, thus, demanded a thorough investigation into the attack on Kamson Ibeh, threats to Dabiri Oluwa’s life, persecution of those found culpable and immediate prosecution of individuals indicted by the Judicial Okuwobi panel.

They equally demanded a halt to the commercialisation of the Lekki Tollgate and its designation as a national monument in “celebration of the heroism of the Nigerian youths who, in an unprecedented and patriotic manner stood up to be counted on behalf of their country.”

(Adopted from THISDAY)