Labour takes Jonathan, IGP to International Criminal Court over murder of 8 protesters

Details: Category: Occupy Nigeria Protest; Published on Wednesday, 11 January 2012 00:58; Written by Admin; Hits: 900

Organised Labour says it has lodged a formal complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Jonathan and Inspector General, HafizRingim for the murders of protesters in the country.

The country, it said tragically has witnessed the murder of at least eight unarmed civilians in the course of the protests against fuel price hikes.

A joint statement from the Acting General Secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress and General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria(TUC), Comrades Owei Lakemfa and John Kolawole also accused President Goodluck Jonathan of importing thugs into Abuja to attack protesters.

According to labour, the Presidency had intended to use the police and army to carry out a planned attacks on peaceful protesters but due to the outcry over previous murders, it has opted to use armed thugs.

"Labour warns the Presidency that it will be held responsible for whatever atrocities these thugs commit. If the thugs attack the anti fuel price hike protesters, the Labour Movement will be compelled to ask all citizens to march on Abuja and take the city.

"The Jonathan Presidency must wake up to the reality that Nigerians in their tens of millions have spoken out across the country against the fuel price hike and it will do well to listen to the voice of the people.

"The nation will recall that the Presidency using a former militant as front, had on Friday January 6, 2012 employed thugs to invade the NLC headquarters.

"With the turmoil in the country created by the Presidency’s insensitive hike in fuel prices, the Jonathan administration has become the greatest danger to democracy in Nigeria and the country’s well being’’.

Thanking civil society organizations, lawyers, House of Representatives members for their support for the mass action, the labour movement called on Nigerians to continue the strikes, rallies and protests tomorrow Wednesday January 11, 2012 and subsequent days until the Jonathan government listens to the voice of the Nigerian People.