Amnesty International Reacts To Attack On Sowore

A global rights group, Amnesty International has condemned the alleged shooting of a citizen journalist and activist, Omoyele Sowore, in the Maitama area of Abuja.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, left Sowore with an injury on his thigh and led to the abortion of a mobilisation rally against insecurity in the country.

However, in a terse statement on Monday, Amnesty International stated that protesters deserved to be listened to, not shot at.

It, therefore, called on the Federal Government to investigate the alleged shooting and bring the perpetrators to justice.

It said: “Amnesty International received disturbing reports that activist Omoyele Sowore was shot by the police, during a protest against rampant insecurity in Abuja. Protesters deserved to be listened to, not shot at.

“We call on the Nigerian authorities to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on Monday, noted that any plan to change government before the election is treasonable.

The minister made this claim while reacting to the shooting of Sowore, who was injured by a tear gas canister fired by a police operative in Abuja.

Keyamo in a post on Twitter wrote, “After long years of turbulent, military govts, Nigerians have agreed to adopt democracy as the best and only form of govt. Any attempt to change a government other than the ballot box or other constitutional means is treasonable no matter how it is packaged in some sentimental jargon.

“All arguments against a govt should be geared towards persuading the citizens to vote against it at the next polls or invoking constitutional provisions through democratic institutions. Any shortcut outside these is an invitation to anarchy and no reasonable govt will tolerate it.”