A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately order the unconditional release of all protesters detained by the police and other security forces.
Frank in a statement released on Sunday also urged the President to prevent further violence and the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters by law enforcement agencies.
He acknowledged that while the ongoing protests are well-intentioned, they have been exploited by sponsored groups in some states, which have aimed to discredit the organizers and provide security forces with an excuse to suppress the demonstrations.
“Nigerians have the inalienable right to protest against government policies that adversely affect them and to demand changes for the collective good,” Frank stated.
Frank criticized the security forces for failing to adhere to the court’s order, which resulted in the unjust killings, arrests, brutalization, and incarceration of protesters, as well as the hijacking of protests by government-sponsored agents to perpetuate criminal acts.
“This situation must not be allowed to continue. The President must genuinely protect the youths who are protesting. He must approach the protesters like a father dealing with an angry child. After all, the youths have no other country to call their own.”
Expressing condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured, Frank urged the International Criminal Court to hold the Inspector General of Police and all Service Chiefs in Nigeria accountable for the killings of unarmed protesters in recent days