Our massacre: 500 women groups give Govt one month ultimatum to End killings
Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi
say 3, 515 killed between January – June 2022,
996 killed in January; 1, 214 in March
14, 641 killed nationwide in three years
3,173 killed between January – May
over 2,293 were abducted in similar circumstances
A coalition of over 500 women organisations under the aegis of Womanifesto on Tuesday, 6th June, 2022, tabled a five-point demand, asking government to swing into action and address the menace of killings in Nigeria.
The women’s reactions followed the recent attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo state, by terrorists, leading to the death of about 50 Persons and many more injured.
The women groups therefore, gave the government about one month ultimatum (till July 5, 2022), to take drastic measures in checking the menace of senseless killings, to preserve the sanctity of human lives.
The Convener of Womanifesto and Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, raised the issues in a statement on behalf of the 500 groups titled, “Womanifesto condemns the killings, gives Nigerian government four weeks ultimatum to address the incessant killings.”
Among the 500 groups are Action Aid Nigeria, Bring Back Our Girls, 100 Women Lobby Group, Yiaga Africa, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Christian Women in Nigerian Politics, International Federation of Women Lawyers, HEIR Women Development, Nigeria Labour Congress (Women Committee), Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
Womanifesto quoted a report by Nigeria Security Tracker that, “over 3, 515 people have died as a result of violent attacks between January and June, 2022, with 1, 214 deaths in March, ranking higher than the 996 deaths recorded in January.”
The organisation cited another report that, “at least 14, 641 people have been killed across the six regions in Nigeria in the past three years, and in just the first five months of this year, about 3,173 have been killed and more than 2,293 abducted in similar circumstances.”
The statement reads, “In the immediate term, however, we demand the following actions by the Federal and Ondo State governments:
“Publish the identities of all the victims of the Owo tragedy including those that died as well as the injured.
“Demonstrate accountability and carry out speedy investigation that is conclusive – leads to arrests, successful judicial prosecution and sentencing of the killers.
“Make immediate contact, provide constant updates, and appropriate succour for all the families of victims of the tragedy by the Federal and Ondo state governments.
“Present as a matter of urgency, a state of national security status report to Nigerians in fulfilment of the constitutional duty of the President and the security agencies.
“Transparently communicate the performance of the security establishments in the light of the huge budgetary provisions allocated annually to the counter-terrorism war.
“Unfortunately, the failure of the government to properly investigate or take tangible actions to ensure justice or deter future occurrences continues to exacerbate the crises. Since its insurgence in 2009, the herdsmen and banditry attacks have risen exponentially as the government has failed to demonstrate the capacity to address the insecurity plaguing the country.
“The Owo massacre in which citizens in their place of worship were killed, again raises the question of governance failure considering that our 1999 constitution asserts security and welfare of citizens as a primary responsibility of the government. The same constitution centralizes the command and control of security establishments in the Federal Government through the President of Nigeria as Commander-In-Chief.
