UNIPORT 4: Parents Protest Unwarranted Killings

Some concerned parents, under the aegis of Nigerian Youths Must Live, have called on the government to take decisive steps to halt unwarranted killings in the country.

The group said it was outraged by the killings of four students of the University of Port Harcourt in Aluu, Rivers State, and other unresolved killings.

NYML lamented that the trend had compromised the safety and well-being of youths in the country.

When on Monday the group met in Lagos, there was an outpouring of emotions as speakers roundly condemned the trend and asked the Federal Government to rise to the challenges of insecurity and other vices in the land.

Convener of the group, Mrs. Roli Craig, said the NYML was formed as an advocacy group to compel the government to address the problems in the land.

Craig, a lawyer, said parents had resolved that they would no longer take excuses from the government for “senseless killings” in Nigeria.

She said, “You will recall that in recent times, young female students returning from their schools were raped. Many more were killed in school while most recently in Port Harcourt, four young undergraduates were murdered in the most barbaric and savagery manner.

“Prior to these events, were the senseless killings of youth corps members while serving their fatherland in the aftermath of the 2011 presidential election in some parts of the country.

“Most of us who are parents today, attended higher institutions far away from home and served as corps members in different cultures. We were cared for and protected by the government and our host communities.”

A parent, Femi Dosumu, lamented the trend, wondering where the country got it wrong.

Dosunmi, the managing director of Pumpco Limited, said, “It will be an admission of failure if I do not appeal to the authorities to halt the killings. We want our leaders to ensure swift justice and bring those connected with the infamy to book.”

Another parent, Mrs. Bisilola Asenuga, said the Human Rights Watch statistics showed that up to 3,000 persons had been killed by gunmen in Nigeria since 2009 was scary.

She said the high number of unemployed Nigerians could be linked directly to the rising insecurity level in the country.

Another parent, Sesan Adeniji, said corruption had devalued the value system of “our people” and, warned that if graft was not eradicated, the myriad of socio-economic and political problems facing the country would persist.