By Ibironke Ariyo
The Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), an NGO, has called on the Federal and State Governments to conduct immediate investigation into the use of force by some security operatives during the Benue protest.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Senior Communication Officer, HBBA, Obinna Ejiogu.
”The investigation should lead to disciplinary action against officers found guilty of misconduct.
“We condemn the use of teargas by some security forces to disperse peaceful protesters in Benue,” he said.
He said the protesters, many of whom were grieving residents of Yelwata and Makurdi, were peacefully demonstrating after the killing of over 100 people in an attack by suspected armed militia in Guma Local Government Area.
According to him, on June 15, residents of Yelwata and other affected communities gathered peacefully, dressed in black, holding placards with messages like “Stop the Killings”, “We Are Not Safe”, and “We Deserve Protection.”
“They marched from the Lafia-Makurdi highway through Makurdi, demanding stronger action from the government following the deadly attack.
“Inspite of the peaceful nature of the demonstration, eyewitnesses confirmed that security operatives fired teargas to disperse the crowd.
“Many protesters fled in panic, with some reportedly injured in the chaos. Peaceful protest is not a crime, it is a right.
“When citizens are brutalised or tear-gassed for expressing pain and demanding justice, the state itself undermines democracy. These people are not just statistics, they are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters.
“Their lives were taken, their homes destroyed. And when they rose in grief to say ‘enough is enough, they were silenced. That is not justice,”he said.
Ejiogu said that peaceful protest was a protected right under the Constitution, not a privilege to be granted or denied at will.
He said that Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, As Amended , guaranteed freedom of assembly and association, while Nigeria was also a signatory to several international treaties upholding the same right.
“Hope Behind Bars Africa is calling for Public commitment from the Benue Government to protect the right to peaceful protest and engage constructively with civil society and affected communities.
“We also call for Independent inquiry by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) into the protest crackdown and broader patterns of state response to civic actions.
“We also call for sustained support for displaced communities, including legal assistance, psychosocial care, and humanitarian aid.
“We are also calling for immediate and sustained security interventions, transparent investigations into the killings, and public accountability for those who have failed in their duty to protect.
“Most importantly, we urge the government to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens, including the right to peaceful protest.
“We also urge them to treat victims not as statistics, but as human beings who deserve justice and dignity,”,he emphasised.
