By Aremu Ade
Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekena Elkanah. Are these names familiar to you? Think again. No? Well, I'll help you. These are the four UNIPORT students falsely accused of stealing and consequently murdered by an irate mob in Aluu community of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They were humiliated, beaten with sticks,then, the mob dragged them through the mud, wrapped car tyres filled with petrol around their neck and set them ablaze. The incident went viral as the gory video footage spread on YouTube like wildfire. Even a policeman was caught hitting them with the butt of the gun.
Unfortunately these ones are small representation of the number of victims of the nation's security apparatus which shows little interest in discouraging jungle justice at best and aiding it at the very worst.
How does a president who swore to uphold the Constitution and respect the rule of law, give an order to law enforcement agents to shoot at sight, anyone perceived to be involved ballot box snatching? Knowing the history of most security agencies of crass abuse of human rights and victimisation of innocent citizens. This is an administration known to disregard court orders to free political prisoners.
It is even more appalling that a man in Mohammadu Buhari who spoke against the military assault against Boko Haram terrorists in the Goodluck Jonathan regime is giving an order to Nigerias security personnel to shoot on sight any person, 'perceived' to be a ballot box snatcher, even if they are innocent just like the FOUR UNIPORT STUDENTS.
The reality that statement breeds is frightening and can be summarized thus: Anybody, yes Anyone could get killed by trigger happy law enforcement agents and be tagged "ballot box snatcher".
This statement made by president Muhammadu Buhari is such which should not be made by a statesman and definitely not by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!