The Committee for the Defence Against Human Rights, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, and labour activist and lawyer, Mr. Femi Aborisade, on Friday called for immediate release of leaders of the the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Oyo State detained by the state’s police command.
The labour leaders were arrested for leading a protest against the planned privatisation and commercialisation of government schools in the state.
Falana noted in a statement on Friday that the detention of the labour leaders was part of the growing wave of violation of citizens’ rights under the President Buhari administration.
He said earlier the Nigerian Army “unleashed mayhem at Onitsha, Anambra State, to prevent the members of the indigenous People of Biafra from embarking on a peaceful rally to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra.”
Falana described the attack as “unprovoked and a barbaric violation of the fundamental rights of the people,” adding that the claim that the killing was carried out in “self defence” was a stupid after thought as the army has no constitutional role in the management.
He said, “A couple of days earlier, the Ekiti state government had incited some artisans to attack striking workers for protesting the non payment of arrears of salaries owed them by the state government.
“Since the Buhari Administration is not prepared to protect the human rights of the traumatised Nigerian people, we have instructed a team of human rights lawyers to challenge the increasing wave of human rights’ violations in the country. In this regard, we commend Mr. Femi Aborisade who has offered his pro bono services to the detained teachers in Oyo State.”
The CDHR also said in a statement issued by its President, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, on Friday that the protest embarked upon by the labour leaders in Oyo State was peaceful.
He also said it was in pursuit of the public interest and the good of the generality of the people of Oyo State and Nigerians in general.
He said the arrest and detention of the labour leaders was therefore ostensibly at the prodding of the Oyo State Government in connivance with the police authority in the state.
The labour leaders were arrested for leading a protest against the planned privatisation and commercialisation of government schools in the state.
Falana noted in a statement on Friday that the detention of the labour leaders was part of the growing wave of violation of citizens’ rights under the President Buhari administration.
He said earlier the Nigerian Army “unleashed mayhem at Onitsha, Anambra State, to prevent the members of the indigenous People of Biafra from embarking on a peaceful rally to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra.”
Falana described the attack as “unprovoked and a barbaric violation of the fundamental rights of the people,” adding that the claim that the killing was carried out in “self defence” was a stupid after thought as the army has no constitutional role in the management.
He said, “A couple of days earlier, the Ekiti state government had incited some artisans to attack striking workers for protesting the non payment of arrears of salaries owed them by the state government.
“Since the Buhari Administration is not prepared to protect the human rights of the traumatised Nigerian people, we have instructed a team of human rights lawyers to challenge the increasing wave of human rights’ violations in the country. In this regard, we commend Mr. Femi Aborisade who has offered his pro bono services to the detained teachers in Oyo State.”
The CDHR also said in a statement issued by its President, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, on Friday that the protest embarked upon by the labour leaders in Oyo State was peaceful.
He also said it was in pursuit of the public interest and the good of the generality of the people of Oyo State and Nigerians in general.
He said the arrest and detention of the labour leaders was therefore ostensibly at the prodding of the Oyo State Government in connivance with the police authority in the state.
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