Outrage is still greeting reports of law enforcement agents forcibly dispersing protesters in Abraka, Delta State with gunshots for marching against the incessant cases of kidnapping in the town.
Social activist, Ifeanyi Samson, reacting to the viral videos which had the protesters, running for safety as gunshots rented the atmosphere, called it a disgraceful and cowardly act, carried out by those who swore to defend the people.
Condemning the action, the activist highlighted the need for the government to urgently put machinery in motion to identify, arrest and prosecute the officers involved, to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the area.
In a press statement, Samson said: “What happened in Abraka is nothing short of a disgrace, a brutal, cowardly act carried out by those who swore to defend the people. Peaceful protesters, already pushed to the edge by kidnappings and lawlessness, were met not with compassion, not with action, but with gunfire. Innocent lives were endangered simply because they dared to speak out against the insecurity that has turned their homes and schools into danger zones.
“Let it be said clearly, this is not just a failure of duty, it is a criminal act. The government cannot brush this under the rug. The officers, soldiers and police, who opened fire on unarmed citizens must be immediately identified, arrested, and prosecuted. Anything less is complicity. Their uniforms do not place them above the law.
“The time for silence and press statements is over. If this government has any shred of integrity left, it must not only apologize but act decisively. Nigerians are tired of dying in silence. Tired of living in fear. And tired of being gunned down for demanding what is rightfully theirs, security. If the government wants to end this crisis, then it must urgently adopt e-governance tools to restore order and trust. Create digital platforms for real-time crime reporting. Use data and public feedback to track police performance.
“Deploy predictive analytics to map crime trends and pre-empt attacks. The technology exists. The tools are available. What is missing is the political will to protect the people. If the government can mobilize armies to suppress protests, then it can mobilize digital systems to prevent crime. The people of Abraka deserve justice.”
Meanwhile, the Delta Police Command has promised to comb the nearby forests with the aim of dislodging the hoodlums carrying out the nefarious activities in the town.
