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CSOs Demand Sanctions for Security Agents Attacking Peaceful Protesters
By Abubakar Yunusa
A coalition of 13 civil society organizations has called on the federal government and security agencies to immediately release all arrested peaceful protesters and sanction security agents who attacked unarmed protesters.
The statement follows President Bola Tinubu’s live broadcast addressing peaceful protests in some parts of the country on Sunday.
The coalition noted that the President’s 38-paragraph speech did not address the core demands of Nigerians across the country, who are calling for good governance and an immediate change from the current downward trend in accountability and social development.
The press statement, released in Abuja on Tuesday, was signed by 13 organizations, including Accountability Lab Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), and Enough is Enough (EIE) Nigeria, Yiaga Africa,among others.
The group stated, “We remind the government that if security forces continue to aggravate protesters, it may become difficult to broker dialogue.
“It is our recommendation that representatives of the National Peace Committee and reputable civil society groups serve as facilitators and observers of this dialogue process and its outcomes.
“The protesters have stated they will continue their peaceful demands on the streets until Saturday, August 10.
“We urge the federal government to concede the low-hanging requests as a reassurance of its commitment to citizen-centered governance and leadership.”
Over the last few weeks, Nigerians have planned, mobilized, and curated various demands, giving the government adequate notice.
As civil society groups and stakeholders in the polity, we have streamlined the demands based on consultations to facilitate a peaceful and holistic engagement with the government on these issues.
The Coalition of 774 Civil Society Organisations has praised President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for their collaborative efforts in enhancing security in the North-West region of Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, the coalition’s Publicity Secretary, Dr Usman Goronyo, attributed the decline in banditry and kidnappings to the strategic leadership of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The coalition specifically highlighted Matawalle’s directive-led operations in Sokoto last year, under President Tinubu’s mandate, as a turning point in the fight against insecurity.
It noted that these interventions had resulted in the elimination of numerous bandits, including the notorious kidnapper Alhaji Halilu Sububu.
“We commend Minister Matawalle for his commitment and effective leadership in tackling insecurity,” Goronyo said. “President Tinubu deserves recognition for entrusting him with this crucial responsibility.”
The coalition reported that the security improvements allowed many towns and villages in the region to going about doing normal activities peacefully, with no major incidents of bandit attacks, except for isolated unrest in Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“We are pleased to carry out our usual activities, going to farm everyday in the North-West without significant security breaches,” Goronyo added.
The group attributed these successes to Operation Fansa Yamma, which targeted and dismantled key bandit enclaves across the region. The improved security, they said, has facilitated safer travel and trade, particularly along major routes such as Zaria to sokoto and Abuja to Kano.
“This is a welcome development. The military’s efforts have significantly eased movement and commerce,” Goronyo stated.
Despite these achievements, the coalition expressed concerns over continued attacks in some villages, including Sabon Birni and Isa in Sokoto state, as well as parts of Katsina, Kebbi, kaduna, Niger and Zamfara state.
“We acknowledge the persistent challenges in some areas but remain confident that security forces are doing their utmost to address them,” Goronyo remarked.
“Minister Matawalle’s unwavering support for the troops has been instrumental in boosting morale and sustaining these gains.”
The coalition also acknowledged the role of General Musa in coordinating the armed forces to maintain stability in the North. It urged the Federal Government to provide additional resources to the military and security agencies to consolidate on recent successes.
“We urge the Federal Government to bolster security efforts through increased funding and logistical support,” the statement read.
“The protection of citizens and their property remains paramount, and we implore security agencies to persist in their commendable efforts,” the group stated.
Police authorities have called on the organisers of a nationwide protest billed for April 7, 2025, to shelve the plan.
The Take-It-Back (TIB) movement had scheduled a nationwide protest for Monday, April 7, 2025, citing several national issues.
However, in a statement on Sunday, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Muyiwa Adejobi, described the protest as ill-timed, especially as it coincided with the National Police Day celebration.
“In line with best global practices adopted by nations in celebrating the achievements of its Police institution, the Nigerian Government has taken the bull by the horn by declaring every April 7 as National Police Day,” the police statement read.
“The rationale behind staging a nationwide protest on the same day is however questionable and perceived to be a deliberate attempt and unpatriotic act that is capable of rubbishing and maligning the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole. The Nigeria Police Force hereby advises the organizers to shelve this planned protest as it is ill-timed and mischievous.”
According to the Nigeria Police Force, the organisers should instead give room for dialogue with the government.
“The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, while reaffirming the commitment of the NPF to adequately carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Law and respect for rights of citizens hereby urges all the organizers of the planned protest as well as individuals who intend to join the protest to pursue dialogue by engaging the proper institution of government to press home their demands,” the police said.
A longlist of notable politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi are in talks to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
This is according to the SDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election Adewole Adebayo.
Adebayo said Atiku and Obi’s men are in talks for their principals to team up with the SDP, which recently welcomed a former Kaduna State governor and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (SDP) into its fold.
“People are joining my party, and we are welcoming them. You can see how active I am in welcoming them. The only little issue we have with some of them is to change the culture where if you have not been in an environment where rules are taken seriously,” the SDP chieftain said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“Some of them are doing some Boy Scouts, black market operations, we are dealing with that. But we welcome them into the party. All these people you have mentioned, El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar, even former Governor Peter Obi are coming. A lot of people are coming, and we will welcome them.”
When he was asked to clarify if Obi, a former Anambra State governor, is joining the SDP, Adebayo said, “Supposedly, until somebody joins, we don’t know. But people have told me, and the Financial Secretary (SDP) has also informed me, that they are talking. So we will welcome everybody.
“Surely, when we come in, and we don’t become a tower of Babel; if we come in, follow the rules and allow one person to emerge transparently, clearly, without cheating, without criminality the way we did our convention in 2022, people applauded us transparently, no court case, no crisis, no allegations.
“If they can stick to our culture and follow the way we do in the SDP and produce a good alternative to Nigerians, we are going to manifestly defeat the APC and retire President Tinubu to Lagos or wherever he chooses in Nigeria.”
Obi, who enjoys the backing of millions of Nigerian youths, came third in the last presidential election after polling about six million votes.
Atiku was second in the poll won by the APC’s Bola Tinubu.
Despite suggestions to the contrary, Obi has repeatedly said he remains in LP, the party that powered his 2023 presidential ambition.