Musa Rhapsodi Affos, Jalingo
Jalingo, the Taraba state capital has been hit by yet another protest following the murder of a young man, Oliver Ezra.
Rhapsodi Affos Blog (RAB) gathered that over hundreds of youth under the banner of One Taraba Youth Coalition, on Wednesday staged a protest demanding justice for the deceased, Oliver, who was shot by men of the Nigerian Police force last Friday.
Our reporter who was at the scene of the protest observed that the Protestants who were predominantly wearing black clothes staged a peaceful protest from the Nyamusala junction of the metropolis and marched to the Taraba state house of assembly complex, with banners, and postcards combining inscriptions that demanded justice for the deceased.
While placing their demands, Comrade Philip Achagwa, the leader of the group told the Speaker, the Principal Officers and some Honourable members that they were in the State House of Assembly to present their letter of protest to the Inspector General of Police against the gruesome extra-judicial killing of Oliver Ezra by one Sergeant Haruna Idi.
While addressing the protestants, the speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joseph Albasu Kunini has decried the spate of police brutality of innocent citizens for no justification, just as he called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that culprits of such dastardly acts don't go scot-free.
He said, "It's with a heavy heart that I welcome you into the State House of Assembly Complex; we woke up yesterday with the shocking news of the death of one of you, Oliver Ezra, as a result of police brutality.
"We in the State House of Assembly will not rest on our oars until the deceased receives justice, even in death; he was an asset.
"The State Commissioner of Police has said that the culprit has been apprehended and will under the necessary disciplinary process according to the Police Act, and thereafter charged to the court to face the full wrath of the law.
"We as lawmakers will not condone such heinous crime by the police personnel who are being paid by taxpayers' money to protect our lives and property.
"As a Parliament, we don't address people on the streets; therefore you are in the right place to register your protest against police brutality and the killing of Oliver Ezra; we will diligently follow up to ensure that justice is meted out against the culprit.
"I cannot imagine training my son up to university level, and after graduation, his life is cut short by a trigger-happy policeman."
The letter of protest was presented by Barr. Daniel Gelle Kwanchi read:
"One Taraba Youth Coalition is a non-religious, non-ethnic, no-secretive and non-profit making hub of youthful Assembly created to showcase and promote the beauty, diversity, culture, and people of Taraba State.
"It's aimed at uniting indigenous tribes and non-indigenes alike with a view of lending one voice on critical issues of development.
"Taraba State, historically renowned as the "Nature's Gift of the Nation '' has, in recent times, unfortunately, become heavily associated with violence, insecurity, and police brutality.
"We write to you today urging for an independent investigation by Nigeria Police Force into the unimaginable and unconscionable MURDER OF MR. OLIVER EZRA BARAWANI, which our preliminary findings indicate that while he was driving his principal, the Executive Chairman of Lau local government area of the State, one Sergeant Haruna Idi of the Nigerian Police Force assigned on a 'beat' at a checkpoint along Jalingo-Numan road, accused the deceased of violating instructions at a checkpoint.
"However, due to prior incident of negligence, concealment of facts and numerous conflicts, we are far from confident that true justice will be served in this case without the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, whose sincerity of purpose has transformed the Nigeria Police Force to a world-class security outfit within the shortest possible time of his assumption of office."
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