Hundreds of residents of Ilaje community in Makoko, Lagos on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest to the state House of Assembly over recent killings in the area.
The protesters urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode
and Lagos Assembly to probe the alleged killing of four persons in the community on May 10 by men of Lagos State Task Force.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the placard-carrying
protesters uniform T-shirts condemned the alleged killings and invasion
of their community.
Addressing the leadership of the House, Mr Alex Omotehinse,
spokesman for the protesters, said that the alleged murder of innocent
persons by the police required government’s investigation to prevent
break down of law and order.
“Our protest is
all about unlawful invasion, killing and maiming of our people by the
policemen under the leadership of Jide Bakare, the Chairman, Lagos State
Task Force on Land Grabbing.
“We are not
fighting on our land, Bakare led a team of policemen to Ori Oke and
Ilaje Community, and invaded the communities, killing four people, while
several others were injured.
“The
injured are in the hospitals with gun injuries. The Commissioner of
Police said he was not aware of the operation, describing it as illegal.
“The
Lagos Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohinmi, had said that the
command set up a committee and that the people involved had been
arrested.
“But surprisingly, those involved are still moving around freely and nothing has been done to them.
“That’s
why we call on the governor and the House of Assembly to set up an
independent panel of enquiry so that those who are culpable would be
brought to book.
“As a matter of urgency,
this matter must be addressed, we want the police to parade the
culprits and stop aiding and abetting them,” he said.
According
to him, if the government failed to act, the Ilaje nation will rise to
defend themselves, saying that they were peace-loving people.
Omotehinse,
General Secretary, Ilaje National Alliance Movement, said that the
people wanted the arrest and prosecution of those who carried out the
attack on the community.
Omotehinshe, who said
that the people had lost confidence in the police to carry out impartial
investigation into the case, alleged that the police command was
shielding the culprits.
Also speaking, Mr Adeola
Ilori, a human rights lawyer, said that he was pained that the state
government had not paid a visit to the family of the victims.
Ilori said that such attacks on defenceless citizens was not only a threat to the people, but also their future.
Addressing the protesters, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, who commended the protesters for peaceful conduct, said that the House would look into the matter.
Obasa,
who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai
Agunbiade, said: “I want to assure you that this case will be presented
to the Speaker.
“All the issues you have
raised are issues of importance and we will look into the matter. All I
am telling you is that justice will be done on this matter.”
Comments