Women Group Condemn Killings of EndSARS Protesters
By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja
A women’s group, the Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa, INWOAD has condemned the reported killings of EndSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos Yesterday.
In a statement to ThisNigeria signed by the president/founder of the group, Evelyn Onyilo it read “We received with rude shock, trepidation and horror the shooting and killing of #ENDSARS unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, Nigeria on Tuesday 20th October 2020.
Onyilo said “As mothers, we are tired of losing our children. Enough is enough. INWOAD sympathises with the families of our slain patriotic youths and all who lost their lives. May God comfort them and grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”
“We mourn the untimely deaths of these gallant young Nigerians cut down in their prime. It is a shame on our Country and leaders as they have failed woefully to protect their own” she added
The Group demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari and his high military command should immediately call its men to order by stopping further killings, maiming and harassment of Nigerians in general and our youths in particular. Enough of the bloodshed and killing of innocent citizens.
“We demand that President Muhammadu Buhari must put in place mechanisms for dialogue with the protesters; a basic principle of true democracy while adequate compensations should be made to families of those who lost their lives and those injured.
Describing the date indeed a black Tuesday for all well-meaning Nigerians to see their vibrant patriotic youth wasted in such a ruthless manner, INWOAD vehemently condemned the brutal use of force by the military in an otherwise peaceful protest by citizens who were demanding for a better Nigeria where the rights of the people are protected
The Group further called on the President to as a matter of urgency address the nation and apologise to Nigerians and indeed the world for the undemocratic and unfortunate use of force by the military of which about 49 protesters are reported to have been killed nationwide.
She prayed the souls of the slain young heroes and heroines rest in peace and praying their labours and deaths not be in vain. “Their blood cry for justice, equality, fairness and a reawakenining for a better Nigeria”.
God bless our gallant youths! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they prayed
