(Minna)
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Niger state have expressed worry over the increasing number of deaths in the despite claims by the state government to have scaled up security apparatus at flashpoints across the state.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had on several occasions declared that his administration is in talks with security agencies to end rising rate of killings.
He promised that the state government would not relent in doing everything possible to secure the lives and property of the people in the state.
Addressing journalists at the 2020 National Day of Mourning (NDoM), the Convener, Niger Accountability Group and State Coordinator NDoM, Mr. Mathew Oladele, said it was worrisome that even after assurances by the state government, people were still being killed, almost on a daily basis.
“People are still being mowed down in their prime, especially in rural communities and along border towns,apart from the death of ninety persons due to various vices in the first quarter of this year.
“Between 2018 and now, we have recorded deaths of Nigerlites as a results violent killings across the state in hundreds.
“Within the first quarter of 2020 alone, recorded 90 deaths.
“While still grappling with the level of insecurity and the growing series of impunity that necessitated yearly NDoM.
“We also have cases of brutality by security agents, increase in banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram, militia herdsmen, cultism, extra judicial killings, electoral violence and other forms of violence that have resulted in death and displacement of citizens”.
“We the CSOs are holding civil action annually in memory of victims of mass violence/killings in Niger state and Nigeria in general.
“May 28 every year is set aside as a National Day of Mourning and Remembrance for victims of violent killings and Mass Atrocities across Nigeria.
“The National Day of Mourning and Remembrance is a citizen’s-led initiative to express solidarity and demand accountability for security lapses and welfare of all Nigerians, insisting that, “This is anomaly that must end”.
“As Nigerlites are being killed, so also we are being displaced from our communities and left to be living at IDP camps in our own land and our livelihoods are laid to ruin”, Oladele lamented.
He called on the state government to show more committeements toward confronting the killers with a view to bringing the trend to an end.
” There should be security beef up and provision of humanitarian aid to communities displaced by bandits in Shiroro, Rafi, Munya, Lapai, Paiko, Mashegu and Wushishi LGAs.
“This is addition to engaging security experts, CSOs and the media to sensitize communities on community policing to check wanton killings and destruction of properties, Oladele he advised.
