From Lagos
As efforts are on to check the spread of #ENDSARS protests in some states of Nigeria, the Archbishop of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, Bishop Alfred Adewale Martins, has cautioned the Federal Government against the deployment of the Army to quell the raging protestd.
The cleric the word of caution in a statement he signed and made available to Journalists in Lagos on Saturday.
The Archbishop, who was reacting to a BBC News report of October 15, insinuating that the Nigerian Army mighyt be deployed to quell the protests by force, observed that such action, if carried out, would be counter productive.
Such a measure, he added could lead to injuries and possible deaths, as well as the escalate of the protests.
The religious leader reminded the government that, “It has the tendency of turning the largely peaceful protests into a violent one.”
He urged Nigerians must all remember that the whole world is watching to see how they handle this situation.
“We, therefore, call for dialogue and mutual understanding in addressing the situation at hand, for the benefit of our young people and the future of our country,he further advised.
The cleric expressed the belief that a sincere and transparent response to the demands of the young people would go a long way in resolving the present impasse.
“The youths, on their part, must continue to go about their protests peacefully and not allow themselves to be led into any act of violence, no matter how small, ” he added.
Martins, however, commended the government for acceding to the demands of the youth but stressed that Nigeria looked forward to practical steps that would be taken to implement them.
“We, therefore, urge the Federal Government to toe the line of engagement in dialogue, listening to the demands of the youth and other well -meaning Nigerians,”he urged.
Martins noted that the disbandment of the dreaded Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS) and subsequent replacement with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) had not assuaged the demands of the youths.
According to him, despite the changes in such security outfit, the youth had consistently trooped out on the streets,in rain and sunshine, even at nights to show their dissatisfaction with the solution offered by government to their demands.
“The issues are clearly more fundamental than the replacement of one police unit with another. The youth and indeed most well-meaning Nigerians, are calling for justice for the individuals and families affected by the brutality of the policemen attached to the disbanded SARS unit.
“They are also using the protest to bring to the fore, the systemic failures which have led to widespread corruption, lack of accountability and massive youth unemployment, among other ills.”
He, therefore, called on the Government to dialogue with the protesters rather than the use of force.
