Chief executive officer (CEO) of Initiative for Liberalisation of Physically Challenged People in Nigeria, Hamza Waziri, has expressed disgust on the way he was assaulted by the police at the commencement of EndbadGovernance protest in Bauchi on Thursday.
Hamza Waziri in a chat with LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday in response to the alleged treatment by the police, said he was exercising his constitutional right to peaceful protest when some police officers pounced on him close to the Government House, Bauchi.
He said, “Imagine a world where exercising your constitutional right to peaceful protest is met with violence and brutality. This is the unfortunate reality that I personally faced today in broad daylight when I staged a peaceful protest in front of Bauchi State Government House.
“Simply for standing up for my rights, basic human rights, I was assaulted by the police, one of them was named AS Shira. The police, the very institution meant to protect and serve us citizens, responded with violence and cruelty, with no regard for decency.”
Waziri gave reason for joining the national protest as purely out of desperation because of the worsening situation faced by disabled persons living in Bauchi State.
“There are no jobs for us, no equal opportunities that the disability law in Nigeria mandates.”
Waziri said it was discrimination and complete disregard for disabled persons that forced him to stage a peaceful protest as a last resort to their plight.
“This horrible incident is directly in breach of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution that allows peaceful protest. This calls for our collective outrage and action and we must demand accountability. It is a shame that this needs to be said but no one should face such violence for seeking justice”.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State government has expressed concern over the incident.
A statement by the special adviser to the governor on media and publicity, Mukhtar Gidado Mohammed yesterday said the welfare and rights of all citizens, especially vulnerable groups, were of paramount importance to the administration.
It said, “We wish to categorically state that the Bauchi State government under the inspirational leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed does not condone any form of violence or misconduct by law enforcement officers attached to the Government House or any government personnel.”
Mohammed added that the government would initiate a thorough investigation into the incident to ascertain the facts.
He assured the public that if the officers involved were found to have acted improperly, they would be held accountable.
Mohammed said the state government remained committed to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for human rights.
