GSAC Condemns Barbaric Jungle Justice in Anambra State by Anti-Touting Officials ...Calls on Governor Soludo to Swiftly Investigate the matter

The Global Society for Anti-Corruption (GSAC) vehemently denounces the horrifying incident captured in a viral video circulating on social media, depicting the brutal assault of a man accused of revenue mismanagement in Anambra state. The footage, which shocks the conscience, portrays anti-touting officials purportedly employed by the state government, subjecting the individual to unspeakable violence, including the use of pestles to dismember his limbs. Such heinous acts not only violate the fundamental principles of justice but also underscore a troubling trend of unchecked brutality by government task forces. 

In light of this grave violation of human rights, GSAC urges Governor Charles Soludo to swiftly investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, signaling an end to the era of lawlessness and fostering a culture of civility and respect for due process among residents of Anambra state.

The group's condemnatory statement addressed to the Governor of Anambra State was made available to the press on Wednesday, 12th March, 2024;

  "BE CIVIL IN YOUR ACTIONS!"

"The Global Society for Anti-Corruption (GSAC) wishes to express displeasure over a trending video on the social media, purporting the manhandling of a man on account of illegally collecting revenues and failing to remit same to the government of Anambra state"

"The man in the viral video whose names could not be immediately ascertained, having been arrested  on Tuesday,March 12, 2024, by alleged anti-touting officials working for the state government was made to sit on the floor where pestle was repeatedly used to dismember his ankles and other bony parts of his body including chest and shoulders"

"While he screamed as he agonized in the pains of his brutality, with blood gushing over him; he rolled repeatedly on the ground, crying and pleading for leniency and opportunity to explain his actions; a development his attackers  ignored and increased their beating"

"He had at a point pleaded that his wife is pregnant and that what they heard was not what happened, yet it did not move them as they continued to hit him while videoing him in his agony"

"We want to say that Nigeria has since left this sort of jungle justice, where perpetrators of crimes and violators of law are tried without being handed to the appropriate agency of government set up by law to do so"

"Assuming without conceding that the young man was guilty as charged, was it right for these anti-touting officials to use pestle and other objects they could lay hands on to dismember parts of his body? The law has prescribed appropriate sanctions against any offender, and no human is above the law. Section 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution recognized the fact of presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and every public official ,including governors, swore to protect and enforce it"

"This is not the first time members of government established task-force are manhandling helpless residents in the name of enforcing revenue generation and order in the state"

"Countless times, business owners and occupants of residences are forcefully arrested in commando style, beaten and detained in unhygienic facilities without being tried in court or handed over to police for prosecution Many had been made to pay various amount of money to obtain their freedom and bail in the hands of these officials"

"As much as we will not indulge actions that could undermine good governance in Anambra state, we wish to call on Governor Charles Soludo to once again look into these task-forces operating in the state with a view to ascertaining if they still operate within the confines of the law"

"It is also our call that he should order an immediate investigation into the current trending video of jungle justice with a view to arresting the trend, as well as bring its perpetrators to book to guide against further lawlessness"

"This level of barbarism and primitive action against helpless residents of Anambra state must stop forthwith. It is time to engage residents with civility. "

Signed

Mr Frank  Ezeona

President, GSAC