The Bayelsa State chapter of Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, has asked the Inspector-General of Police to set up an independent panel to probe the recent ‘bloody’ rally of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, in the state. The group said on Wednesday that the death of two infants and firing of teargas canisters by the police during the event organised in Yenagoa, the state capital, by Mrs. Jonathan should not be glossed over.
The First Lady in the event that turned Yenagoa, the state capital into chaos last Thursday, inaugurated the distribution of empowerment items to different women groups.
But the police were said to have fired teargas that caused stampede and led to the death of two infants who were three and six months old.
The state CLO Chairman, Chief Nengi James, in a statement in Yenagoa said that the crowd control at the First Lady’s event was noticeably poor.
James noted that the crowd was gathered at the football field of the Samson Siasia stadium which has only one entrance and one exit.
He explained that it was irresponsible and callous for the police to have fired teargas canisters at such a tight venue.
James noted, “The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abbah, should order a probe into the incident to avoid future occurrence.
“The action of the police is wicked and should be investigated to avoid another act of manslaughter and murder in the state as the political campaigns draw near.
“It is sad to note that the police could shoot teargas into the crowd of women instead of being more civil.
“It is a violation of human rights and it is a clear case of murder. Such inhuman treatment will discourage people from attending rallies in the state”.
The CLO chairman also called for adequate compensation for the families of the deceased.
He lamented that the kids were crushed to death in a stampede caused by armed security men.
Source: informationng
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