By Ochogwu Sunday The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Monday threatened to drag the Federal Government of Ni...
By Ochogwu Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on
Monday threatened to drag the Federal Government of Nigeria and the five
governors in the South-East geopolitical zone to the International Criminal
Court in The Hague Netherlands over the rising killings and kidnappings in the
zone.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in
a statement, described the incidents in Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia
as “crimes against humanity” which according to him, should be stopped forthwith.
The group said both federal and state governments are
duty-bound to protect Nigerian citizens and should not be exposed to insecurity
as prevalent in the South-East in the last two years.
DAILY POST recalls that gunmen on Sunday kidnapped four
reverend sisters of the Catholic church along the dreaded Okigwe-Enugu Road in
Imo State whilst on their way for morning mass.
The four abducted reverend sisters include Benita Agu,
Liberata Mbamalu, Johannes Nwodo, and Christabel Echemazu.
The development added to the growing number of such
incidents in the South-East which include the abduction of Catholic priests,
and the Primate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria.
While some Catholic priests like Rev. Fr. Chinedu Nwadike,
who was kidnapped along the same road last week made it out, his other
colleagues have not been fortunate as they were killed by armed gunmen
terrorising the South-East zone under the guise of cattle grazing, commercial
motorcycling, amongst other camouflage trades.
Commenting on the development, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “The
activities of armed Fulani terrorists in the South-East and especially the
rampant cases of armed kidnappings for ransom in Umulolo-Okigwe Road, Okigwe-
Enugu Road in Lokpanta are worrisome.
“HURIWA condemns the abduction of four Revd sisters on
Sunday morning while on their ways to mass and the many kidnaps of Catholic
priests in the South-East and other parts of the country which show that the
gunmen have specific targets in mind.
“Federal and state governments including security agencies
like the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Department of State
Services must ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted
sisters who have done no wrong by being committed to their religious devotion.
“According to Section 14 (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, “the security and welfare of the people shall be
the primary purpose of government”. The government must stop giving vain
excuses and quit its relaxed and unconcerned posture and secure the people
against gunmen aggression in whatever guise.
“HURIWA condemns the apparent inability of South-East
governors to galvanise armed forces to wipe off the menace of killings and
kidnappings in the zone.
“The DSS and the regional security outfit called Ebubeagu
must focus on what matters which is the security of the people and not them
busy killing Igbo youths on the nebulous ground including the recent
extrajudicial killing of 14 Igbo youths at Awo Omamma in the Oru East Local
Government Area of Imo on July 17 whilst returning from a wedding. Again, we
reiterate the need for justice on the massacre of the innocent and unarmed
wedding guests as it appeared that the case has been swept under the carpets
after initial protestations by many people and groups.
“Aside from the Awo Omamma killings, Ebubeagu officers on
July 24 allegedly shot dead a student, Kelechi Ogbonna, in the Oguta LGA of
Imo.
“Amnesty International captured the extrajudicial killings in
the South-East when it said at least 115 innocent persons were tagged
‘militants’ and killed by security forces between March and June 2021 in the
five states in the zone. Also, a non-government organisation, Intersociety,
alleged in January that state actors including police, soldiers, and DSS
operatives, amongst others, killed about 1,400 residents and torched about
1,000 homes in 100 South-East communities within 14 months.
“The kidnapping-for-ransom and killings by non-state actors
including ‘unknown gunmen’, notorious Fulani herders, amongst others MUST STOP.
The four abducted Revd sisters must be rescued with immediate effect. The
security agencies must make this happen instantly having failed to man the
dread road and protect motorists.
“Also, the extrajudicial killings of innocent and unarmed
Igbo youths by security agents MUST stop. HURIWA has compiled evidence of
crimes against humanity to be sent to International Criminal Court in The
Hague, Netherlands, against South-East governments, the Federal Government and
armed security forces.”
No comments