How Ajimobi, Oyo police violated victims’ rights to life in market clash – VOHRI

A human rights group, Veteran Organization for Human Rights Initiative (VOHRI) has declared that the Oyo State Government and the state Police command violated rights to life of victims of Thursday’s clash which occurred between butchers and policemen.

The mayhem which occurred Thursday morning, DAILY POST recalls led to the killing of about six persons.

But, VOHRI lead activist, Comrade Sakirullahi Ayobami and General Secretary, Comrade Adekunle Abimbola, while addressing a press conference at the weekend in Ibadan, explained that the state government under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has violated section 33 of the Nigerian constitution which guarantees the freedom to right to live of the people who died on Thursday.

They added that the police on the other hand, also acted contrary to its own act, Police Act section 1, which states that the primary role of the police is to protect lives and property of the people.

The duo while condemning the mayhem added that the state government has tampered with the fundamental human right of those who lost their lives, noting that the police instead of protecting the people went ahead to harass, intimidate and in the process about six people lost their lives, an offence VOHRI said was against the Police Act.

The group further alleged that the state government and the police have also committed contempt of court by going to the market on Thursday, because three court cases are still pending on the relocation of butchers in Ibadan.

The duo while issuing a 3-day ultimatum which starts from today (Monday) to the state government to reopen the Bodija abattoir and allow the courts to decide, however, declared that failure to heed to the advice of the organisation will lead to a 1 million man mass protest in Ibadan, the state capital.

While commensurating with those who have been affected by the crisis, VOHRI said it will compel the state government and the police to pay due compensations to those who were affected by the crisis through the courts.

They said, “Are we still in military regime? We want the government to explain to us who owns the Amosun abattoir. We condemn the action of the government and the police totally. And we have began the processes, we are going to file fundamental actions against the government and the police for the killing of the innocent people.

“Killing of innocent people is unconstitutional, demolition of the abattoir is unconstitutional. Is Ajimobi saying he is above the law? There are three cases, one at the magistrate court and two at the High Court. The case at the magistrate court has been adjourned till July 16, the two cases at the High Court are adjourned till October 24 and 25, so why did they go to the market to kill people? Are they saying they are above the law?

“The state government by sending the police and in the process some people were killed has committed offence against section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution. Right to life of the people has been violated. Are they now saying that those people don’t have right to life as stated in section 33? Did they see them with arms?

“The police whose salaries are being paid with our taxes, they are now using guns to kill people. We are going to sue the State government and the police. We are going to file fundamental actions against the state government and the police. The people have lost over N500m and they are going to pay for it. The police act, Section 1 states that, the primary function of the police is protection of lives and property of the people. We are filling fundamental actions against Oyo state government and the police over the Bodija killings.

“We are now issuing a 3-day ultimatum to Oyo state government to reopen the closed abattoir at Bodija market and let the courts decide. The ultimatum starts from Monday. Failure to do that, we are mobilising 1 million people in a mass protest in Ibadan. ”