The Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to raise an independent judicial commission of enquiry to investigate the Sept. 20 killings at the Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.
A statement issued on Monday in Kaduna by the President of the congress, Mr Shehu Sani, said the conflicting claims by security agents and survivors of the alleged attack raised ethical and professional questions.
According to the statement, the claims must be properly determined.
It said that “discretion, accountability and responsibility in the use of lethal force is indispensable in a free and democratic state.
“The state has a moral and constitutional duty to combat violence and terror and restore peace but not at the price of the lives of innocent persons.
“If we accept the extra judicial killing of ‘insurgents’ by security agents, we have logically issued a licence for impunity.
“Fighting insurgency should not be an excuse to kill innocent persons and commit heinous atrocities with the seal or stamp of the state’’.
The statement said that “so much blood has been spilled’’ and urged the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate the matter and prosecute anyone found guilty. (NAN)
