The Human Rights Writers of Nigeria, HURIWA has warned the Nigerian Army against the alleged killing of innocent citizens of the Southeastern part of the country, particularly in Anambra State.
DAILY POST reports that following the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 6th, the Nigerian Army and members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has clashed severally, leading to the death of some agitators and officers.
Recall that the secessionist group had vowed that no election would be conducted in the region until its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is freed from the Department of State Services, DSS’s custody.
Troops of 82 Division conducting Exercise GOLDEN DAWN on Friday, engaged operatives of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, the militant wing of the IPOB, in a gun duel.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu who confirmed the development at the weekend, said about four of the hoodlums were gunned down.
Other incidents have occurred in the state as the secessionist refused to back down, insisting that the election will not hold.
Speaking on the development, HURIWA, in a media statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, alleged that there have been “several reports of extrajudicial killings by the military in Anambra and other parts of Nigeria.
The right group has also called for independent verification teams made up of the “National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and credible Civil Rights Advocacy groups to observe the implementation of the ongoing internal security operations by the Nigerian military in the South East.
The group said the verification is with special reference to Anambra State, following allegations of the use of excessive force by the military, resulting in extralegal execution of the civil populace.
HURIWA has also asked the relevant committee of the states and National Assemblies to investigate reports of the widening application of excessive military force and the use of extrajudicial killings in the South East of Nigeria by soldiers.
