Group urges govt to show more commitment in vigilantism fight

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Against Political Vigilantism (CCSAPV), has called on the government to rescind its decision and withdraw the white paper declining action on the Emile Short Commission’s report and implement the recommendations to the fullest.

According to them, recent incidences of ‘thuggery’ seen during the just ended NPP primaries as well as concerns raised ahead of the upcoming elections calls for the punishment of the culprits of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence to serve as a deterrent  to others.

The coalition expressed shock nine months after the  incident, the president had refused to implement some of the recommendations presented by the commission and as a result, perpetrators of such crime against innocent electorate continue to walk shoulders high which would eventually encourage others with similar ambition to soldier on.

In a statement jointly signed and issued by the  Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Coalition respectively, Eben Fanuku and Alimatu Issahak , it said the government’s failure to implement the recommendations of the Emile Short Commission made mockery of  the government’s commitment, dedication and determination to the fight against political vigilantism and may give way for more violence in the 2020 general election.

The statement stated that there were indications of thugs and other vigilante groups mobilising to cause mayhem in the general elections and was also reliably informed that scores of “gangs” and ‘thugs’ were allegedly being recruited and kept at some vantage places in most constituencies awaiting election day deployment.

 It appealed to the government to take interest in such matters and ensure that justice was dispensed fairly and equally to inspire confidence and discourage the public from seeking personal and instant justice. -myjoyonline.com