A rights group, Amnesty International, has accused
security forces in Nigeria of killing at least 150 members and
supporters of the pro-Biafran organization IPOB (Indigenous People of
Biafra).
It also says hundreds have been injured during non-violent meetings, marches and other gatherings.
In a report
released by the group on Thursday and entitled, “Nigeria: ‘Bullets Were
Raining Everywhere’ Deadly Repression Of Pro-Biafra Activists”, Amnesty
International claimed that the killings occurred between August and
now, with hundreds also arbitrarily arrested.
It said that the report focused on the crisis brewing in the
southeast of Nigeria, where IPOB campaigns for an independent state of
Biafra. “Video footage and eyewitness testimony consistently show that the
military, which has been deployed instead of police to control
pro-Biafran events, has dispersed peaceful gatherings by firing live
ammunition with little or no warning. “This report documents extrajudicial executions and the use of excessive force by military, police and other security agencies.
“It also shows a worrying pattern of arbitrary arrests and
detentions, including soldiers arresting wounded victims in hospital,
and of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees. Hardly any
allegations of crimes under international law and human rights
violations by the Nigerian security forces, and in particular the
military, are investigated. “If an investigation is carried out, there is no follow up. “Because no one has been seen to be held to account for serious human
rights violations, an already pervasive culture of impunity within the
military has been further strengthened,” the report alleged.
The group further alleged that the military was currently deployed in
30 out of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
insisting that frequent deployment of soldiers has resulted in many
cases of excessive use of force, extrajudicial executions and enforced
disappearances throughout the country, and in particular in the
northeast, southeast and north central regions.
It further claimed that it had repeatedly called on the government of
Nigeria to initiate independent and effective investigations into its
evidence of crimes under international law committed by the military,
especially in the context of the conflict in northeast Nigeria. The report further read: “In response, President Buhari has
repeatedly promised that Amnesty International’s reports would be looked
into. However, no concrete steps have been taken to begin independent
investigations.
“As a result of the apparent lack of political will to investigate
and prosecute perpetrators of such crimes, the military continues to
commit human rights violations and grave crimes with impunity”.
The rights group said it interviewed 193 people and analysed 87
videos and 122 photographs showing IPOB assemblies, members of the
security forces in the process of committing violations and victims of
these violations.
It further stated that on 30 September 2016, it wrote to the Nigerian
authorities including the military, police and officials of the State
Security Service (SSS, also known as Department of State Security, DSS)
to share the findings. Responses were received from the Federal Minister
of Justice and Attorney General and Inspector General of Police but
neither answered the questions raised in the letter.
Amnesty International is recommending that the Nigerian government
immediately end the involvement of the military in public order
operations throughout Nigeria, initiate independent investigations into
the deadly repression of pro-Biafra activists by the Nigerian military
and police with the aim of bringing suspects to justice in fair trials
It also asked the state governors of Abia Anambra, Delta and Rivers
states to set up judicial commissions of inquiry to investigate the
allegations documented in this report.
Source: Channelstv
