Investigate Lekki tollgate massacre Biukeme tells Buhari

 

Prominent Ijaw leader and Niger Delta Region Activist, High Chief Afro Biukeme have thrown his weight behind those calling on President Mohammadu Buhari to investigate the massacre of young Nigerians who were protesting against police brutality at Lekki tollgate, Lagos allegedly by Nigerian Army.

Recall that #EndSARS protest has enveloped the entire country over the notorious police unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad SARS, leading to a bloody clash between the protesters and the security authorities across the country.

He also advised the Federal Government and Inspector General of Police to come out with a holistic reform of not only SARS but the entire Nigerian police force and put the necessary machinery in place to cushion the effect of hunger and poverty in the country.

“I joining well-meaning Nigerians and the International Community to call on President Buhari to set up an independent investigative panel to investigate the shooting and massacre of Nigerian youths at Lekki tollgate Lagos, who were protesting peacefully and fish out the perpetrators so that they will face justice as promised by Prof.Osinbajo.

“Nigerians want to see a thorough reform of the police and at the same time to ensure that the necessary steps are taking very fast to prevent an immediate break down of law order because there are too much hunger and poverty in the country, people are hungry. So, the government should listen to the demands of Nigerian Youths under the auspicious of EndSARS in order to avert future disaster.”

Biukeme who was addressing journalists in Warri, Delta State said what the Federal Government has succeeded in doing is just the mere changing of the name of the notorious police unit from SARS to SWAT which is not what Nigerians want.

“Nigerians want to a situation where those security agents who shot and killed young Nigerians in their prime who were protesting peacefully holding Nigerian Flag but yet still went ahead to fire them is felony and crime against humanity and genocidal.

“Nigerian Police should be thoroughly reformed police Changing the name from SARS to SWAT does not change anything. Withdrawing of police from VIPs does not change anything. We want to see police that does not carry raffle, police where you will not pay money to bail an accused person That is the kind of Police we want and not the changing of the name from SARS to SWAT.”

Chief Biukeme while dismissing the panels set up by the State Governors Insisting that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not give the State Governor power to control the police nor the Army, expressed sadness over the loss of lives of young Nigerians.

He added that the failure of President Buhari to address the protesting youths on time fueled an already tense situation. “President Buhari was adamant, he refused to address Nigerians at the early stage of the protest, if he had done that, he would have been able to calm fray nerves. Even when he finally talked, his address was meaningless because a lot of damages have been done.”

The Delta Ijaw born Politician and Niger Delta Region Activist who condemned in strong terms the actions of hoodlums attacking genuine protesters and the destruction of the public and private property said the only way out of the present situation is for the Federal Government to sincerely tackle the demands of Nigerian youths without delay.

Chief Biukeme described the actions of some State Governors allegedly hiding Covid-19 palliatives given to them by the Federal Government as ” Criminal.”

He, therefore, called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC to investigate the issue and the National Assembly not to shy away from amending the Constitution to bring down the powers of the state governors.