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#EndSARS: My Govt Respects Rights Of Citizens, Buhari Claims
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to operate within the dictates of the law, adding that his administration respects the right of all citizens.
The President said his government has put in place measures and strategies to address #EndSARS demands, stressing that the government would do everything lawful to ensure all sides are satisfied with measures taken to achieve peace in the country.
Buhari, represented by the state Minister of Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D Aliyu, made the remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting on peace in Damaturu, Yobe State, yesterday.
He said, “In the spirit of democratic governance and appreciation of the fundamental human rights of all citizens as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other laws, we acknowledge the genuine concern of the members of the public regarding the excesses and use of force by some members of the SARS.”
In his address, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State said, the peaceful protest against SARS, which metamorphosed into violent killings, wanton destruction and massive looting, the hijacking of the protest by hoodlums and the negative vices that followed, was highly condemnable and regrettable.
He said the government and people of Yobe State salute the President for promptly disbanding SARS, being the cause of the protest, adding that, this early response ought to have brought the protest to an end.
“Here in Yobe State, we have suffered so much and for too long from the protracted insurgency that bedevilled our state and the North-East in general. We cannot contemplate having additional crisis and hardships from the violent protest as we are now battling to resettle, rehabilitate and reclaim means of livelihood for our people”, Buni said.
Buni also appreciated the traditional and religious leaders, elders’ statesmen, parents and guardians for always preaching peace and peaceful coexistence in their communities.
He said this administration will continue to build tolerance, dialogue and strategic engagements to resolve all differences to promote peace and unity in the state, believing that progress and development can only be achieved in a secure and peaceful environment.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.