…holds NDOM May 28, 2020
By Ralph Chris-Izokpu
About three thousand, one hundred and eighty-eight (3188) lives were lost January to December 2019, and one thousand one hundred and forty-two (1142) have been reported lost their lives in first quarter of 2020, to violent killings in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, by the Executive Director of a Non Governmental Organisation NGO “Global Rights, Mrs. Abiodum Baiyewu
Baiyewu said, the over 4000 lives lost in the country was as a result of the continued violent killings and insurgency in some parts of the country. Saying this is coming at a time when virtually all states of the country are still beset by violent killings with impunity.
The executive director of global right said,”our tracking of victims of violent killings across Nigeria for 2019 instance, informs that at least three thousand, one hundred and eighty-eight (3188) lives were lost between January and December 2019 and more disheartening is that so far, within the first quarter of 2020 alone, we have recorded the loss of at least one thousand one hundred and forty-two (1142) lives to violent killings in Nigeria.
Baiyewu stated that, “these mass atrocities have now spiraled into a national catastrophe and are threatening the very fiber of our nationhood; adding that, “in addition to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is likely to cost us even more lives if the government does not step up its interventions with integrity.
The group also, said that, the third commemoration of the National Day of Mourning NDOM, and Remembrance for all victims of violent killings across Nigeria, hold on Thursday, May 28, 2020.
“As you are aware, the National Day of Mourning and Remembrance is a citizens led initiative to express solidarity, and demand accountability for the security and welfare of all Nigerians. The resolve for a National Day of Mourning was consequent to the resolutions reached at a meeting of more than a hundred civil society actors two years ago in Abuja, to undertake a National Day of Mourning as a symbolic action capable of registering citizens’ dissatisfaction with the state of our national security, since protests no longer seem to impact the conscience of our political elites”
“Our projection for the NDOM 2020 is that this year’s event will be more virtual than congregational as we had done in the previous years. This is in view of the current trend of the Covid-19 pandemic, and our adherence to the safety and precautionary measures prescribed by the Federal Government and the National Centre for Disease Control. Thus, the usual solemn assembly of concerned citizens to perform mourning ceremonies at strategic locations around the country may not hold.
However, we have adopted the following activities that could be done virtually via your social media platforms: Calling their names, wearing of black arm band, or black ribbons as a symbol of their solidarity and silence. As we invite all Nigerians to observe a minute of silence at noon on May 28. We also request radio and TV stations to observe the silence and advocate for their audiences to do the same.
