Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly condemned the shocking and shameful attack on harmless women and children who were protesting peacefully in front of the Kwara State Government House over rising cases of kidnapping and insecurity in parts of the state.
In a post on social media on Sunday, Sowore shared a video which he said showed “hired thugs” assaulting women and children during the protest. He described the incident as “one of the most despicable scenes” he had witnessed at a seat of government.
Sowore further expressed outrage that uniformed officers of the Nigeria Police Force allegedly stood by without intervening as the protesters were beaten, harassed and humiliated in public. According to him, the conduct of the security personnel amounted to a failure of their constitutional duty to protect citizens.
“I unequivocally condemn Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s intolerance and high-handedness in sanctioning or at the very least permitting such barbaric acts against citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest,” Sowore said. He added that violence against women and children is “unacceptable in any democracy.”
The activist called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately identify and discipline officers who allegedly failed to act during the incident. He also demanded the arrest and prosecution of those who carried out the assault, warning that failure to take decisive action would amount to official complicity.
