The Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) under the leadership of the co-chairmen; the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; and President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians on the raging #EndSARS nationwide protests.
Nigerians, especially the youths have been protesting the abuse of office and Police brutality, with the protests taking new dimensions of violence, leading to killings and destruction of properties.
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The Executive Secretary, NIREC, Rev. Fr Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, who spoke on their behalf said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a news conference.
This is as he also condemned the killings of protesters in Lekki, Lagos State and other parts of the country, saying soldiers have no business intervening in peaceful protests.
While equally charging President Muhammadu Buhari to speak to the nation, he urged the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello to speak on the killings and other violence in the FCT; and for other authorities concerned to speak to Nigerians and also intervene in the development.
He added that the hoodlums attacking and destroying properties should be separated from the peaceful protesters and subjected to the laws of the land for their actions.
“Soldiers have no business quelling riot, the youths have not killed anybody. What I will say is that the soldier who shot or the soldiers that did that, the military should have a way of calling them to order.
“So in the first place, in a democratic system, soldiers have no business shooting in a peaceful protest,”Omonokhua said.
He said that if not addressed, the protest as peaceful as they are intended, could be manipulated by unscrupulous elements in the society thus resulting in breakdown of law and order.
“NIREC therefore calls on the government to sway into action and bring a quick and peaceful resolution to the situation on ground.
“In the same vein, NIREC urges the Nigerian youths to ease down on the protest and give the government time to respond to their demands,” he added.
He also urged all Nigerian to remain calm and be law abiding as government makes effort to resolve the situation.
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