In a bid to condemn the level of impunity and
frequency of violent killings across the country in recent times, Nigerians
on Monday marked the 'National Day of Mourning'.
Organised by the Joint Nigeria Crisis Action
Committee (JN-CAC), the memorial was launched to mark the death of Nigerians
who died violently in crisis riddled states.
Led by the co-coordinating committee of five; Chidi
Odinkalu, Yemi Adamolekun, Abiodun Baiyewu, Ier Jonathan-Ichaver and Auwal
Musa, the coalition said their mission was to reawaken the consciousness of
Nigerians.
Parts of activities to mark the day were the
national mourning at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, Humanitarian convoy to sites
of mass killings and displacement, opening a register for the dead as well as
international solidarity and advocacy.
At the Lagos rally, the peaceful protesters who
came out dressed in black and totting placards, stopped at Allen Roundabout in
Ikeja to observe a solemn minute of silence for the dead.
Some of the placards they carried read 'Bring
justice to the dead’, Bring the killers to justice', ' FG act now! Stop the
bloodshed', 'Enough of the killings', 'Life is sacred, protect it', 'Let's
unite and make NIGERIA safe again', among several others.
In a statement issued by the coalition, they said:
"The level of impunity and frequency of violent killings in Nigeria in
recent times is a source of grave concern to citizens and all people who wish
our country well.
"The African Centre for Strategic Studies
(ACSS) estimates that over 60,000 persons were killed in the Middle Belt
between 2001 and 2016.
"In the first 70 days of 2018, over 1,400
persons were killed violently across the country, an average of nearly 40 per
state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
"Extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in the
hands of uniformed services are reported to be in thousands annually.
"In some parts of the Northeast, Boko Haram
continues to terrorise, killing thousands of innocent Nigerians.”
The statement further noted that “in some parts of
the Northwest, including Southern Kaduna, Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State as well
as Zamfara State, vast swathes of ungoverned territory have been taken over by
rustlers, bandits and vigilantes who like to share blood.
"The southern states of the country have not
been spared in the ongoing bloodletting, as at least 34 out of the 36 states
have experienced at least one episode of violent killings within the first
quarter of 2018."
In their demands, the coalition said: "As
citizens and advocates, we demand that this dehumanisation of Nigerian lives
must stop.
"We
seek to stir the conscience of our political class into developing the
political will to protect our commonwealth through accountable governance.
"Most importantly, to read the riot act that
we as citizens have reached an end in our docility and will no longer tolerate
the narratives that seek to divide us."
Adding its voice to the cause to EiE, a coalition
for social justice also lamented that the frequency of violent killings in
Nigeria has become a source of grave concern, adding that the government seems
unconcerned about it.
The coalition said: "Why National Day of
Mourning? In the first 70 days of 2018, nearly 40 persons were killed in each
state of the federation.
"Extrajudicial killings are increasing
annually and the internal displacement of Nigerians has become an accepted norm
#NigeriaMourns.
"The National Day of Mourning and Remembrance
is to honour the victims and remind the government of its duty."
Meanwhile, some skeptics like Caramel Gbele said:
"Something is not just adding up about this day of mourning. Isn't the
buck stopping on the president's table anymore?
"Why can't we be calling out President
Muhammadu Buhari while mourning and asked him to resign? Did I miss
something?"
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