THE Stop Impunity Nigeria, SIN, Campaign has commended the Lagos State Government for setting up a Tribunal of Inquiry into the road traffic accident in which a soldier was killed in the Palm Grove area of Lagos on July 4, 2014 and the subsequent arson and vandalisation of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, buses by soldiers.

SIN Campaign in a statement, described the action of the soldiers who went on rampage on July 4 following the accidental killing of their colleague, burning every BRT vehicle in sight, and attacking civilians and journalists, as “an act of impunity, which is one of the major social problems perverting the Nigerian polity.” It noted that the inquiry into the incident, should be thorough and all indicted officers brought to book, adding that all persons and agencies of government whose rights were violated by the incident should also seek legal and economic redress.

The Campaign coordinator, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, of Human Development Initiatives, HDI, said: “The concept of ‘impunity’ is linked with disregard for the law or rule of law, violation of human rights, abuse of legal-social order and deliberate disregard for due process. This impunity which translates to immunity from the law warrants a thorough investigation which, happily, the Lagos State Government has found the will and courage to institute.”

He noted that the accident which resulted in loss of life was clearly unfortunate and perhaps could have been avoided but wondered: “Was it right for soldiers to have taken laws into their hands by going on rampage, destroying government property, beating up civilians, and disturbing public peace?”

He contended that the Military is clearly subject to civilian authority, particularly having regard to section 130 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which declares that the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.