He also called on the government to prosecute killers of the 16 people travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Eid-el-fitr festivities. The travellers were reported to have been lynched and burnt to death by their assailants at Uromi, Edo State.
Falana, yesterday, said there was a need for the government to put in place measures to end the extra-judicial killing of citizens by security forces.
The chairman of Alliance on COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) condemned the dastardly attack and cold murder, charging the Nigeria Police Force and the Edo State government to speed up the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
He cautioned citizens against resorting to self-help.
EQUALLY, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has sought an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation into the incident.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the group revealed that the victim hunters were intercepted by a vigilance group and armed youths, who mercilessly killed them.
Videos of the incident show the victims pleading for mercy as they were beaten, tied to petrol-soaked tyres, and set ablaze while onlookers cheered instead of intervening.
CISLAC condemned the act as a stark example of rising mob violence in Nigeria and the deepening culture of impunity.
The organisation urged authorities to ensure swift justice by apprehending and prosecuting all those responsible, including any security officers, who failed to act accordingly.
“Under international law, the Nigerian government has an unequivocal obligation to protect its citizens, safeguarding their right to life and protecting them from torture and other ill-treatment. The failure to fulfil this duty sends a dangerous message, signalling that violence and impunity will be tolerated, ultimately emboldening mobs and vigilantes to act with increasing brutality,” CISLAC emphasised.
