By SadiqAbubakar
Maiduguri
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Maiduguri chapter, has condemned the recent demolition of roadside shops and stalls at the Monday market, Bags road market and Tashan Bama markets and motor parks within the Maiduguri metropolis.
In a statement signed by the NBA chairman, Borno state, Barrister Abdulwasiu Alfa, made available to newsmen in Maiduguri, stated: “We condemn in strong terms the high headedness and shall do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice no matter how highly placed”.
While accusing the military for the demolition, the body stated that the military should know that the state was no longer under state of emergency and that the state was under absolute democracy and, therefore, the citizens were entitled to all rights enshrined in the 4th scheduled of the 1999 constitution.
“The Nigerian Bar Association is deeply shocked by the unwarranted, unjustified and illegal demolition of temporary structures along major streets and the Monday Market area”, the statement stated.
Its added: “It is worrisome that the security operative’s particularly military operatives of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri are under illusionary impression that they are above the law or not subject to Nigerian law. It is illegal and unconstitutional to proceed to demolish or destroy property of law abiding citizens without any prior notice.
“The military should not cover their glaring incompetence in the fight against terrorism by simply harassing innocent citizens, the NBA has resolved and directed its human right committee to immediately swing into action in order to identify the perpetrators of distasteful act”, the chairman stated.
The Bar also urged the members of the general public to continue to be law abiding and report any violation of their fundamental rights to the NBA Human Right Committee for appropriate actions.