A motion seeking intervention, and possible release of four persons reportedly arrested by the Nigeria Police during the country’s Independence anniversary on October 1, has been dramatically rejected by members of the House of Representatives, IgbereTV reports.
Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu had in the motion prayed that the Committee on Police Affairs be mandated “to investigate the allegation of the arrests, and interface with the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force for the immediate release of the four arrested innocent protesters” arrested in Abuja on the said date.
But after Elumelu presented the motion which he titled “Illegal Arrest, Detention and Brutalization of Peaceful Protesters”, Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, punctured his submissions, arguing that protesters cannot be said to be “peaceful”, when they go about obstructing other people who are going about their lawful businesses.
“You cannot say you are carrying out a peaceful protest when you are burning tires on the road, and obstructing people and say it is human rights. You can do your protest but you cannot obstruct other Nigerians”, he said, adding that the issue of rights should not be used to prevent the police from carrying out its duties, especially at a time when people are taking up arms and burning down police stations.
However, deputy minority leader, Toby Okechukwu, insisted that all Elumelu was asking for was for the alleged illegal arrest to be investigated, and any one found culpable to be prosecuted. “Our laws guarantee due process in policing. I don’t think we can equate a simple protest with people carrying arms”, he said, adding that the persons should be given fair hearing.
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila also pointed out as worrisome, where Elumelu in the motion stated that “a detachment of armed anti-riot policemen led by ASP Altine Daniel arrived at Dantata Bridge and violently opened fire on the peaceful protesters to disperse them”, when he was not aware of any reported death during the incident.
The speaker had to repeat the question for members’ voice votes three times before he finally gave it to the nays.
Elumelu had earlier explained that he had noting Pernod against the police, but only “asking that the rights of Nigerians, who we represent are protected”.
