…Blames moratorium on enforcement of death penalty for unprecedented killings
The tragic deaths of scores of Nigerians in the hands of terrorists, outlaws, kidnappers and bandits in September alone underscore the painful reality that law and order are fast disappearing in Nigeria and instead anarchy, doom, lawlessness and governmental inaction have become the order of the day, according to the assessment done by the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).
In the best interest of the survival of the corporate and sovereign entity of Nigeria, the Rights body is demanding from President Tinubu that his administration embraces its primary constitutional duty of protecting lives and property of citizens as espoused in Chapter two of the Constitution just as HURIWA asserted that the legal duty to protect Nigerians falls squarely on the shoulders of president Tinubu and governors of the states of the Federation.
HURIWA, a front line Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group said the abductions of dozens of commuters in Kogi state including a freshly called to bar female lawyer Miss. Onyesom Peace Udoka, the Arise television reporter murdered by armed robbers in Abuja during an alleged violent robbery incident, Miss. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a lawyer and news anchor of ARISE Television, the persistent cases of violent kidnappings in Kwara state, the killing of dozens of police operatives in Benue state by terrorists, are worrying signs that demonstrate the grave situation of breakdown of law and order in Nigeria.
HURIWA said it expects President Tinubu to know that the National policing institution charged with primary internal law enforcement and crime prevention (Nigeria Police Force) has collapsed under the inept and incompetent leadership of the Inspector-General of Police Mr. Kayode Egbetokun just as HURIWA asserted that finding a highly competent head of Nigeria Police Force could go a long way to pragmatically combat the rising waves of violent crimes in Nigeria.
HURIWA quoted a press release by Arise TV’s management announcing the killing by armed robbers of the news anchor, thus: “It is with heavy hearts that the management and staff of the ARISE News Channel announce the passing of our beloved colleague, News Anchor, Reporter and Producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu. Sommie tragically passed away in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025 following an armed robbery incident in her residence in Katampe area of Abuja that is being investigated by the Nigeria Police.
Arise TV’s management stated that the murdered journalist Miss. Sommie, 29, was not only a cherished member of the ARISE News family but also a vibrant voice that engaged and connected with our viewers.
HURIWA noted that the management of Arise television testified that beyond the airwaves, Sommie was a lawyer who was a professional and supportive colleague and a friend to many just it concluded by extending their deepest condolences to the family of the murdered journalist and lawyer Miss. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu even as it demanded accountability on the side of the law enforcement agency.
HURIWA in a media release regretted that the unprecedented insecurity characterised by massive killings of Nigerians is pathetic even as the Rights group said what makes the situation grave in Nigeria is that both civilians and members of the armed security forces are daily killed by terrorists just as eleven Forest Guards and a community head were shot dead in Okeode Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state by rampaging bandits who took the community by storm on Sunday.
HURIWA recalled that the information issued by the Kwara state government stated that the deceased Forest Guards and vigilantes have been positioned to provide security for the community before they met their untimely death.
“Consequently, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who expressed deep grief over the tragedy despite his efforts to stamp out banditry in the state, called for increased security deployments to the community and the state in general to rout the criminals involved in attacks in parts of the state”, a Kwara state government press statement affirmed.
HURIWA recalled that eight additional bodies of security personnel have been recovered following a deadly ambush on Police Tactical Teams at Agu Centre in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack, which occurred on Friday, September 19, was reportedly carried out by suspected armed herdsmen and local militias.
It targeted a joint security team comprising police officers and operatives of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, locally known as Anyam Nyor, during a clearance operation near the state border.
Initially, three police officers were confirmed dead, while eight others were declared missing.
However, speaking recently, the Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Mr. Justine Shaku, confirmed that the bodies of the missing eight personnel have now been found, bringing the total number of casualties to 11.
“Eight additional bodies have been recovered apart from the first three that you already know,” Mr. Shaku said.
“They were on a border patrol when the incident occurred.”
HURIWA said there is the urgency of the moment for state governors and the President to kick-start the enforcement of the death penalty so thousands of condemned terrorists, kidnappers and criminals are immediately executed. “The failure and systematic refusal by governors and the President to sign death warrants for condemned criminals to be executed is the major motivation for killers roaming around the country to continue to destroy the precious lives of citizens since they know that their actions have no consequences which is made even more precarious by the slow pace of justice administration in the country. The time to act is now, HURIWA concluded.
COMRADE EMMANUEL NNADOZIE ONWUBIKO,
NATIONAL COORDINATOR,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). Tuesday September 30th 2025.
