Eminent human rights lawyer and activist, Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, has expressed worry over “the gory pictures circulating on social media since Monday June 17, 2019, of the alleged shooting of Ilaje youths, who were peacefully protesting around the premises of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Commission (OSOPADEC) in Akure.”

Adegboruwa said in a statement on Tuesday that “whilst we all await the response of the Ondo State Government and the police on this very ugly incident, it is important to state that no government should unleash violence on its own citizens. Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution grants to every citizen, the freedom of expression, in civil and peaceful ways, and there should be no circumstance that should warrant the shooting of live bullets by the police or the army, on innocent youths that bear no arms but placards, in jeopardy of their right to life, guaranteed under section 33 of the Constitution.

“The value of our hard-won democracy should not be diminished or frustrated in any manner through brutal suppression of the will of the people, or threat to their lives.”

He urged the Ondo State Government to institute a commission of inquiry to investigate the incidence and bring all the perpetrators to book.

“It should also render adequate medical treatment to all those injured in this condemnable act, if indeed it happened the way it has been reported.

“Demanding for financial autonomy or accountability for OSOPADEC should not in any way incur death or injury to anyone. The funds accruing to OSOPADEC are meant for the development of the oil producing areas and the citizens of these areas are perfectly well entitled to demand for an account of the management of the funds allocated to OSOPADEC. And they should not lose their lives or be injured for this purpose.”

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