By Nancy Okenwa
Lawyers under the auspices of the Association of Lawyers With Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) have condemned the killing of 62-year-old person with physical disability, Adetunji Ayaji, who was murdered in his house at Imasayi community in Yewa-North Local Council of Ogun State.
The group also condemned the gruesome murder of one Aisha Aminu, a woman with disability by her 44-year-old boyfriend, Siyaka Mohammed, in her shop at Obehira, Okene Local Council of Kogi State on June 7, 2023.
Ayaji was reportedly macheted to death on July 5 by unknown assailants, who broke into his house after his family members had departed for work.
For Aminu, her boyfriend allegedly dragged her from the inner chambers of her shop and stabbed her multiple times until she succumbed to death.
Mohammed, who fled after committing the crime, has since been apprehended by the police.
ALDIN’s National President, Ikem Uchegbulam, in a statement, described both attacks as senseless.
“This deeply shocking attack is another horrific reminder of the real threats of violence and insecurity that Persons With Disabilities (PWD) and other vulnerable people in the country continue to face daily in their struggle to survive,” Uchegbulam lamented.
The association condoled with families of the deceased persons and the disability community over the unfortunate incident, stressing that the lives of PWD’s matter.
While commending the Nigeria Police Force for Mohammed’s arrest, Uchegbulam said the apparent profiling, targeting and killing of persons with disabilities have gone on unchecked for too long and must be stemmed.
Consequently, the group urged the authorities to speedily prosecute the suspects to serve as a deterrent.
The group also demanded immediate probe of the incidents so as to bring perpetrators to justice.
It also appealed to the government to strengthen remedial measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.