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TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY EMERGE WOMEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IGALA NOBLE WOMEN AND AMAZONS FOR CHANGE TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR LATE MRS SALOME ACHEJU ABUH WHO WAS BURNT TO DEATH ON MONDAY 18TH NOVEMBER, 2019
Gentlemen of the press,
1. We have invited you here today to give an update on the case of the Mrs Salome ACHEJU ABUH of Ochadamu in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, who was a victim of political violence in the aftermath of the November 16 governorship election. She was burnt alive by some hoodlums masquerading as APC party thugs.
2. Like several credible local and international observers have testified in their different reports of the kogi governorship election held on Saturday November 16, 2019, what transpired in the state on that day was anything but an orderly election through which a credible leadership could have emerged.
As recounted by various sources, the election was characterized by logistics challenges, vote snatching, voter intimidation, vote buying and physical destruction of ballot materials in several polling units in kogi state, particularly in Okene, Okehi, Ankpa, Lokoja, Ofu, Yagba East, Yagba west, Dekina local government areas and several other places in all the senatorial districts where arms were glaring used by party thugs to intimidate and disrupt the electoral process in most cases with members of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies either helpless or compromised.
3. Despite the shortcomings as observed in the election which were reported by several local and international observers however, the results were declared in favour of the ruling APC in the state on Monday, 18 November, 2019. In celebration of the outcome of the election, therefore, some armed thugs in Ochadamu, Ofu local government area of the state took particular interest in Mrs Salome, because of the active role she played in campaigning for the leading opposition candidate, Engr. Musa Wada. Accordingly, with smoking guns, the murderous thugs invaded her house, locked her in to prevent her from escaping, set the house ablaze and watched her burn to ashes while foreclosing any attempt at a rescue by constantly shooting into the air while the arson lasted.
4. The woman was completely burnt into ashes in the glare eyes of people who were agonised by the dastardly and ungodly act. Satisfied that they have successfully executed their evil plans, these dangerous, evil and armed thugs happily left the scene of the crime and continued with their evil activities till the next day when luck ran against them as they were reportedly apprehended by the policemen where they were taking rest after their murderous operations overnight in the neighboring community.
5. Public Outcry
We have noted with deep interest, that despite the futile attempts made by some party bigwigs in the ruling party in the state to justify the heinous crime as a reprisal attack, several good spirited individuals have come out openly to condemn the act in the strongest possible terms. Furthermore, several senior citizens of the state, including the candidate of the PDP in the election, Engr. Musa Wada; the candidate of the SDP in the election, Ms. Natasha Hadiza Akpoti among others have paid condolence visits to the family to pay their condolences.
6. We have also noted that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhamadu Buhari, GCFR issued a statement on Sunday 24 November, 2019 to strongly condemn the dastardly act which he described as “barbaric.” He therefore, called for thorough investigation and urged relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book in line with the law of the land.
7. While we noted with particular interest the motion sponsored on the floor of the Senate to condemn the dastardly act as many responsible individuals and bodies had done in reaction to the act, we were irked by the desperate attempt made by the Senator representing Kogi East at the Senate, Alhaji Isah Jibrin Echocho who is supposed to be the chief mourner in the murder case to unduly justify the killing as a “retaliatory” attack. That insinuation, to us, represented the heights of violence against women in the country and a continuation of contempt by some men who see women participation in politics as an affront that must be prevented by all means including the use of violence against them.
8. We condemn the justification by the Senator as most insensitive, demeaning and unbecoming of someone that is enjoying the mandate of people of that senatorial district. Accordingly, we call on him to immediately withdraw his unkind words in describing the unjustifiable provocation against an innocent woman who was targeted because of her gender.
7. Our prayers:
Conscious of the influence which politics normally have as the deciding factor even in matters with clear criminal evidence; concerned that even after the arrest of the criminals by the police that the case could be treated with levity by relevant authorities; mindful of the consistent organised violent attacks against women to discourage them from active participation in politics, but inspired by the assurances given by Mr President that the case will be given expeditious consideration after the completion of diligent investigation, we the Igala Noble Women and Amazons For Change in partnership with Emerge Women Organization hereby call for justice in this matter.
8. The murdered woman, Mrs Salome ACHEJU, as many sympathisers (including Senator Jibrin Isah) have testified, had no record of criminal activities and was never found to have engaged herself in any unlawful activities. She was someone who found joy in political activism and never hid her support for whoever she believed in like every active politician. Thus targeting her for this demonic, inhuman and senseless killing on the basis of her political beliefs and gender is not only unacceptable, condemnable but punishable and all lovers of justice demand that the perpetrators are duly brought to book.
9. Accordingly, we call on relevant authorities to expedite actions on the investigation of the case; arraignment and conviction of the culprits after diligent prosecution at the law courts to serve as deterrence to others. We recall that in societies, laws are being enacted on affirmative actions to bridge the gap between men and women participation in socioeconomic activities. Nigeria cannot afford to take a pariah position in how it treats its women. To this end, we are calling on women worldwide and all spirited individuals and human rights organisations to take special interest in how this woman’s case is treated for other nations to put adequate measures in place to protect women’s right to participation in socioeconomic and political activities and preserve their honour.
10. On our part, we would continue to monitor this case with the keenest interest to ensure that the perpetrators are diligently brought to book without institutional cover by any interested individuals or groups. Such attempt would be viewed as a continuous agenda of violence against women and protested against with utmost vehemence.
11. Once again, we thank you, gentlemen of the press for honouring our invitation and assure that we would be giving you updates on this matters as development unfolds.
12. God bless
Signed,
Mrs Mary Ikoku
Emerge Women
Dr. Safiya Stephanie Musa
Amazons For Change & Empowerment Initiave
Haj. Mariam Emeje
Igala Noble Women Initiative
