not armless IPOB protesters
*Seeks investigation into alleged killing of 10
protesters in Onitsha by security operatives
The Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), has
condemned the alleged killing of at least 11
protesters and others severely injured when pro-
Biafra protesters clashed with armed security
operatives at the wee hours of Wednesday,
December 2, 2015, in Onitsha, the commercial
city of Anambra State.
The CLO, in a statement by its Executive
Director, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, said among
those allegedly killed by the joint military
operation was a 21 year-old Nkiruka Anthonia
Ikeanyionwu, from Adazi Nnukwu Anambra state
and schooling at Fedral College of Education
Umunze, Anambra State, adding that those
injured are currently receiving treatment in
undisclosed hospitals in the state, even as 100
others are reportedly being detained in Abuja by
the Directorate of State Security (DSS).
Recall that over the last three weeks members
of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have
been protesting the continued incarceration of
their leader and the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr.
Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested and detained by
the Nigeria’s secret Police since October 17,
2015.
The group which expressed worry that Kanu was
still was still detained despite a Court Order
which granted him bail, said: “It has become the
tradition of the Nigerian authorities to rudely
disobey court orders. This, we fear, may
seriously threaten our civil rule and viciously
return our society to the yester years of
impunity, terror and executive lawlessness.
“Only few weeks ago, the court Order granted to
the National Security Adviser to former President
Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) to
travel overseas for medical treatment, was
disobeyed by the Nigerian government. His house
has been under siege since the court order was
granted without the repeal of the order by a
court of higher jurisdiction.
“On Tuesday, the former Chairman of Daar
Communications, Dr Raymond Dokpesi was
allegedly detained on oral invitation to the EFCC
headquarters in Abuja, an act constitutional
lawyers say amounted to the breach of the law.
We are ashamed to learn that Dr. Dopkesi is
allegedly remanded on the primitive Holding
Charge (colonial) Law which is no longer in the
legal code of our country.
“CLO, though in absolute support of the war
against corruption by the current government,
will not support impudent violation of the rights
of the citizens by the authorities acting in
contrary to the provisions of the law, no matter
the excuse. Even where murder allegation is
involved, nothing can justify the abuse of the
rule of law, human rights and due process while
the matter is being investigated. It looks odd to
parade and hold suspects who are being
investigated by security agents in guilt as if they
have been found guilty by the courts,” it said.
Continuing Ezike said “The CLO views the
shooting of armless civilians by soldiers and
other security agents in Onitsha, especially at
the odd hour of 1:30 am as a case of gross
violation of human rights, use of excessive force
and a crime against humanity. This barbaric act
has no place in a modern society as it also
gravely undermines all United Nations (UN)
African Union (AU) and other international,
regional and national human rights mechanisms.
Nothing, whatsoever, can justify this flagrant
infraction on the rights of the citizens. Absolutely
nothing!
“On the war against corruption, while CLO
maintains zero tolerance for corruption and other
social vices and crimes, we shall strongly
continue to disassociate ourselves from the
violation of our laws and human rights on the
altar of fighting graft and other crimes in Nigeria.
CLO, in a very strong term, condemns this abuse
of the Constitution by the Nigerian authorities
and demand the return to the use of due process
and respect for the rule law in addressing
corruption issues.
“This kind of exercise was last experienced in
Nigeria in 1999 and 2000 when the Obasanjo
regime sacked Odi community in Bayelsa and
Zaki-Biam in Benue states through executive
terror and lawlessness.
“We urge the Nigerian government to deploy the
energies and resources being wasted on armless
citizens to confronting more serious issues of
Boko Haram and other criminal elements whose
activities terrorise and ravage our country, which
have turned our young soldiers’ wives into
widows in our barracks, children into orphans and
our communities into Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) camps. The time and resources
employed in executing a war against armless and
hapless citizens cannot do us any good,” he said.
Adding that “The CLO urges the federal
government to handle the agitation issue by the
youth in the South East and any other parts of
the country with care so that it does not
escalate into a full blown crisis. Nigerians cannot
afford to fight two or more wars at the same
time. Meanwhile, reports are ripe that the ethnic
rights activists in the Niger Delta popularly called
militants have started regrouping for actions
against the Federal Government.
“In view of the foregoing, the CLO demands as
follows that the National Assembly and the
National Human Rights Commission conduct full,
unbiased, thorough and honest investigation into
the alleged shooting, killing and injuring of
innocent and armless citizens in Onitsha,
Anambra state, with the view to getting to the
root of the heinous act and ensuring that justice
was absolutely done.
“That Mr. Nnamdi Kanu whose wife, Mrs Uchechi
Okwu-Kanu, is under 8 month pregnancy and
whose bail has been ordered by the court be
released immediately in consonance with the
provisions of our law. CLO insists that the
continued detention and torture of Nnamdi Kanu
against the order of a Court is an invitation to
crisis and anarchy.
“The Immediate and unconditional release of all
the unlawfully detained IPOB protesters across
Nigeria, and a stop to unlawfully using security
agents to rudely violate our laws, infringe on
human rights of the citizens, disobey due
process and remand suspects beyond the limit of
the law.”
The CLO add added that “While as a Pan
Nigerian human rights organization we hold
tenaciously to one just, united, equitable and free
Nigeria, we wish to note that protest is an
inalienable right of the people while the rights to
demand for justice, equity and accountability on
one hand, and the right to self -determination on
another, are enforceable under the UN and AU
regulations or mechanisms to which Nigeria is a
signatory.
“The CLO is hugely shocked by this act
reminiscent of the dark days of military
dictatorship and cautions against return of our
society to executive lawlessness, impunity and
infringement on human rights and civil liberties.”
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