Politics
THE Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, and the Yoruba One Voice, YOV, have said that they read with shock and dismay the plan by the Federal Government to deploy the Armed Forces under the guise of “Operation Crocodile Smile” with the sole aim to quell the popular #ENDSARS protests across the country.
A joint statement issued by the group on Sunday noted that the protests “are a clear testament to failure of leadership. We fully endorse the #ENDSARS protests. We commend Nigerian youths for again rising to the occasion to redirect the drifting ship of state”.
The group said that the Federal Government should immediately rescind its decision to deploy the Armed Forces to truncate legitimate protests by Nigerians and that it was contrary to international law.
They urged the Federal Government not add to the gruesome bloodletting by the discredited SARS operatives through the ill-advised deployment of the Armed Forces.
“We will hold the Buhari Administration and its officials responsible for any killings occasioned by the deployment of the Armed Forces to quell legitimate civil protests.
“We call on the United Nations and the international community to take particular interest in the #ENDSARS protests and the planned deployment of the Armed Forces, and to hold Nigerian officials to account for any infringement of civil rights.
“The Armed Forces must be reminded that their loyalty is to the Nigerian state. The era of regime protection is gone forever,” the statement said.
The group commended the Nigerian youths for their courage and sacrifices in the face of police brutality, joblessness, insecurity, extra-judicial killings and hopelessness.
“We stand in solidarity with you in the struggle for a better future,” the statement signed by Christy Ekama, Principal Secretary to the Directorate of State, Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, and Zacheus Somorin, Director of Communication, Yoruba One Voice, said.
– Oct. 19 2020 @ 11:19 GMT |
Tags: #ENDSARS: Group warns against deployment of armed forces
