Human Rights Advocate Urges Govt to Arrest Perpetrators Behind Attack on Women Protesting in Kwara

• As Gov AbdulRazaq denies govts involvement

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A human rights advocate based in Kwara State, Dr. Bilkisu Oniyangi, has urged the state government to fish out those involved in the flogging of women who were protesting the incessant bandit attacks in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

Oniyangi therefore described the incident as a grave violation of constitutional and human rights.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin yesterday on the development, Dr. Oniyangi stated that rather than protecting the protesting women, some suspected thugs descended on them by flogging them without considering the issues being raised.

While condemning the action, Oniyangi urged the state government to bring those involved in the incident to book so as to serve a lesson to those that may likely embark on such action in the nearest future in the state.

Oniyangi who had earlier made an open letter to the appropriate authorities on the issue berated the position taken by the law enforcement agencies in the state for not protecting the protesting women by allowing some thugs to flog them.

In the open letter earlier issued in reference to a video currently circulating in the public domain which shows women being flogged during the protest, Oniyangi stated that, “the authenticity of the footage has not been disputed and described the incident as “clear, direct, and deeply disturbing.”

According to her, the protest was peaceful and lawful, with participants exercising their constitutional rights to demand urgent government action against persistent banditry and kidnapping affecting communities across the state.

Rather than being protected, Oniyangi stated that, the protesters were allegedly subjected to harassment and violence.

She alleged that the individuals involved appeared to be political loyalists or civilian thugs operating openly within the vicinity of the Government House, raising questions about state responsibility, failure of oversight, and possible complicity by omission.

Citing the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), she noted that section 40 guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, while section 34(1) guarantees the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture or degrading treatment.

She described the public flogging of women as a gross violation of these provisions.

From an international law perspective, she also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protects freedom of assembly, bodily integrity, and freedom from violence.

Dr. Oniyangi argued that the state bears responsibility not only for violations it directly commits, but also for those it fails to prevent or punish.

Beyond legal considerations, she described the incident as a moral failure, particularly in Ilorin, a city known for its Islamic heritage. Quoting Qur’an 4:19.

She emphasised that Islam condemns the abuse and humiliation of women and that there is no religious, cultural, or legal justification for such acts.

She therefore demanded the immediate public acknowledgment and condemnation of the incident by the authorities, the identification and prosecution of all individuals involved, a transparent explanation of how non-state actors were able to operate within a government security perimeter, and clear guarantees that peaceful protests will be protected going forward.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has expressed outrage at a footage showing some hoodlums attacking women protesters during the Christmas holiday near the under-construction Government House gate in Ilorin.

The governor said the assault on the protesters, whatever the circumstances, was unacceptable and should never have happened.

A statement issued in Ilorin by the governor’s Chief Prees Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye stated that, “Peaceful protest is a democratic right. The women are within their right to express their views.

“We, therefore, distance ourselves from the incident as it does not represent our values as a government.

“We call on the police to find the attackers and bring them to account.

The statement further said that, “The government is clearly not standing aloof on security matters, adding that, “Just on Saturday, Dec. 27, the governor personally led the passing out parade of armed forest guards whose mandate includes flushing out kidnappers and terrorists from our forests.

“This is in addition to heavy deployment of security forces, among other investment, to secure our communities”.