By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Gaba Development Association has appealed to the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to reconsider th...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Gaba Development Association has appealed to the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to reconsider the recent unconditional pardon granted to eleven individuals convicted of murder.
Speaking at a press conference in Minna, Vice Chairman of the association, Yakubu Maji Isa, voiced deep concern over the implications of releasing those convicted of violent crimes, especially crimes committed against members of the Gaba community.
Isa stressed that the community’s pursuit of justice through the legal system was essential, especially given the significant losses it has endured. “After our people have been murdered, we believe that we deserve justice,” he said.
He warned that the unconditional release of convicted murderers could set a dangerous precedent, not just for Gaba but for the entire Nupe-speaking region. He argued that the move might promote a culture of impunity, conveying a message that taking a life carries little or no consequence.
“It’s like granting liberty to commit wanton killings without regard for the sanctity of life,” Isa lamented.
He also highlighted the emotional trauma inflicted on victims' families, particularly children who might be forced to see the perpetrators of their parents’ deaths walking freely. “You can imagine a child seeing the person who murdered his father. You can only wonder what the emotional outcome of that could be,” he added.
Isa urged the state government and judiciary to revisit the decision, emphasizing the importance of justice in deterring future crimes. He warned that allowing such pardons could undermine the rule of law and embolden others to commit similar offenses.
“If this case is allowed to go unchallenged, it becomes a kind of fiat—suggesting that if you want someone’s land, you can kill them, and the worst that can happen is a court case followed by a pardon,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Isa called on Governor Bago to consider the ongoing suffering of the Gaba people and ensure that justice is not sacrificed in the name of clemency. “We ask the Governor to reflect on the pain of our people and ensure justice prevails so that this cycle of violence and trauma does not continue.”
No comments