Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana has appealed to the kidnappers who abducted Chief Mike Ozekhome and four other people in Edo State last week to release them unhurt without any further delay.
In a statement by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria on Saturday, Falana said, “having put them and their families through an undeserved emotional and psychological stress and trauma, the kidnappers should set the victims free.”
He also stated that the federal government must guarantee the security of Nigerians.
“Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government but the federal government has shown beyond any shadow of doubt that it is grossly incompetent and incapable to secure the life and property of any citizen in the country.”
Falana noted that armed robbers, kidnappers, terrorists, assassins and other nihilist forces have taken over the monopoly of violence from the ill-equipped and ill-trained police and armed forces of a failed state.
“If the federal government does not adopt urgent and concrete measures to guarantee the security of life and property within the next one month, I am going to mobilise Nigerians to rise up with a view to taking their destiny in their own hands.”
Falana said it is unfair to abduct the victims of official corruption, irresponsible governance and abuse of power, adding that all steps should be taken to secure the release of Chief Ozekhome and others who are currently being held in an undisclosed location by the kidnappers.
The kidnappers had requested for a ransom of N150m days after abducting Ozekhome.
