By Divine Sam
The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aondona Dajoh, has directed the immediate release of all youths arrested during recent protests held across the state.
This decision was announced during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, which was convened in response to increasing public backlash over the detention of individuals protesting against persistent insecurity in various parts of Benue.
While addressing the House, Speaker Dajoh emphasized the importance of upholding democratic values and safeguarding the constitutional rights of the people. He stated firmly, “Peaceful protest is a constitutional right. No one should suffer punishment for raising their voice in a democratic setting.”
The Speaker’s declaration received commendation from fellow lawmakers and was applauded by civil society organizations, who described it as a courageous defense of civil liberties.
In addition, Dajoh urged security agencies to act with professionalism and to respect the rights of peaceful protesters. He called for restraint in future engagements with civilians.
The House of Assembly further committed to launching a thorough investigation into the arrests and pledged to work with relevant authorities to avoid similar incidents in the future.
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