Soyinka decries arbitrary use of terror by security forces

Nobel  Laureate and human rights activist,  Wole Soyinka, has called on the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to move swiftly to end the recurrence of arbitrary use of force on civilians by security forces, especially representatives of the Nigerian Army.
The call was one of the major highlights of the keynote remark made by Soyinka at the tenth anniversary of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting hosted by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism in Lagos.
Soyinka’s lament came on the heels of recurring reported cases and picture evidences of the regular visit of terror on mostly unarmed and helpless Nigerians by the men in uniform whose constitutional role is to protect the people.
The Nobel Laureate emphasised that having come out of a difficult 29 years of military rule, Nigerians must be allowed to enjoy the freedom that democracy promises. He also raised other concerns including issues of contempt of court and unauthorised detention.
At the award presentation event, two honorary prizes, the lifetime award for journalistic excellence and the anti-corruption defender award were presented respectively to veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede and immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, who was represented by his former personal assistant, Abdullahi Usman.