Over 90 of the nation’s leading civil society organisations (CSOs) on Thursday asked the federal government to fulfil its constitutional obligation under Section 14(2)(b) to protect lives and property.
They made the demand in a joint statement to commemorate the 9th National Day of Mourning (NDOM) with the theme: “Nigerian Lives Matter”.
They also condemned the worsening insecurity and the government’s failure to protect citizens’ lives and property.
They noted that the NDOM is a citizen-led initiative to accord dignity to victims of mass atrocities and to demand accountability from those constitutionally entrusted with protecting lives.
According to them, since May 2023 when the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assume office, at least 19,980 people were killed and 12,362 abducted in mass atrocities across Nigeria.
“At least 1,486 security personnel killed on active duty under the current administration. At least 865 students abducted from schools since 2023, contributing to Nigeria’s status as having the most out-of-school children globally,” the CSOs said.
They noted that farmers can no longer access land, while schools operate under fear of attack, and survivors are left without justice, rehabilitation or even acknowledgement from the state.
They among others demands that the federal government fulfil constitutional obligation under Section 14(2)(b) to protect lives and property; investigate, arrest and prosecute perpetrators of mass atrocities and abductions; strengthen civilian protection through intelligence, early warning, and rapid response; disrupt kidnapping and ransom economies by tracing financial flows; and provide humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation and psychosocial support for IDPs and survivors.
“Nigeria cannot continue to gather annually to mourn the dead while failing daily to protect the living. We refuse to become desensitised to preventable killings. We insist that Nigerian lives matter and demand justice,” the coalition said.
The statement was co-signed by:
1. 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative
2. Abubakar Mohammed
3. Accountability Lab
4. ACE-Nigeria
5. Advocacy Centre for Development
6. African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
7. African Law Foundation (AFRILAW)
8. All-4-One Humanity Development Foundation
9. Alliances for Africa (AFA)
10. Amnesty International Nigeria
11. Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
12. Bauchi Human Rights Network
13. BENDEF
14. BOCODEP
15. BudgIT
16. Bwatiye Community Development Association
17. Cedar Seed Foundation
18. CEE-HOPE
19. Centre for Community Excellence (CENCEX)
20. Centre for Social Justice
21. Center for Transparency Advocacy
22. Centre LSD
23. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
24. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
25. Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER)
26. Clean Technology Hub
27. CLEEN Foundation
28. Community Life Project (CLP)
29. Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA)
30. Companions for the Development of Jibia Local Government Area
31. Connected Advocacy
32. Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR)
33. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
34. Disabled People in Leadership Initiative and Network of Women with Disabilities
35. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)
36. Enough Is Enough
37. F.S.A.F.C.I
38. FEMBUD
39. FENRAD
40. Gatefield
41. Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion
42. Global Rights
43. Grassroots Development Monitoring and Advocacy Centre (GDMAC)
44. HEDA
45. Human Rights Network Jigawa
46. International Press Centre (IPC)
47. Initiative for Social Development in Africa (iSODAF)
48. Keen and Care Initiative (KCI)
49. Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
50. Koyenum Immalah Foundation
51. Life and Peace Development Organisation
52. Media Rights Agenda
53. Mowalek Centre for Sustainable Community Development
54. Middle Belt Concern
55. Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation
56. Nextier SPD (Security, Peace and Development)
57. Nigerian Network of NGOs
58. Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI)
59. Online Hub NG
60. Onyx Foundation
61. OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative
62. Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN)
63. Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN)
64. Partnership for Justice and Network of Nigerian Human Rights Defenders
65. Policy Alert
66. PRAWA International
67. Praxis Center
68. Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL)
69. Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria
70. Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
71. SBM Intelligence
72. Sesor Empowerment Initiative
73. SIPJAD
74. Social Action
75. Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre
76. Socio Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP)
77. Sokoto Youth Council
78. South Saharan Social Development Organisation
79. Stephanie Peacebuilding and Development Foundation (SPADEV)
80. Support Initiative for Sustainable Development
81. Tap Initiative
82. TechHerNG
83. The Kukah Centre
84. The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED)
85. The Rights Academy
86. The Statecraft Report (TSR)
87. Urban Alert
88. We The People
89. West African Drug Policy Network (WADPN)
90. Woman in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)
91. Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMNG)
92. Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
93. YandyTech Community
94. Yiaga Africa
95. Yobe Youth Council.
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