Army, Police Killed 115 In Four Months In South East – Amnesty

Amnesty International (AI) has accused Nigerian security agents of killing at least 115 people in 4 months in the South-East.

In a report released by its Country Director, Osai Ojigho, on Wednesday, the human rights group claimed that security agents carried out the killings between March and June 2021.

She revealed that over 500 persons were arrested after police and military raids with reported widespread allegations of torture and ill-treatment.

The group’s director disclosed that the corpses of the victims were allegedly deposited at government hospitals in Imo and Abia states.

Ojigho decried the ruthless use of excessive force by security operatives in Imo, Anambra and Abia states.

She, however, noted that 21 security personnel were killed in three months in Imo state during the unrest.

The report reads: “In carrying out a repressive campaign since January, the security forces had included sweeping mass arrests, excessive and unlawful force, and torture and other ill-treatment in its response to the violence.

“Nigeria’s government has responded with a heavy hand to killings and violence widely attributed to the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafra movement.

“According to government officials, the ESN killed dozens of security operatives and attacked at least ten public buildings, including prisons, police stations, and other public buildings from January to June.

“In response, security forces comprising military, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) have killed dozens of gunmen, as well as civilians where attacks have been committed.”

Ojigho added that Amnesty International carried out an extensive investigation to document the human rights violations and crimes under international law in Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia States from January 2021.

“The organisation documented 52 incidents of unlawful killings and 62 cases of arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and torture. Media reports, video and audio recordings reviewed show that the Nigerian security forces also employed excessive force and other unlawful means to address the rising violence

“From January 2021, gunmen suspected to be ESN militants launched a series of attacks on
government infrastructure, including prisons and public buildings, killing several police officers.

“Amnesty International condemned these attacks and called on authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Nigerian security forces launched security operations in June, primarily targeting ESN militants or those perceived as such to decimate the group.

“Amnesty International documented at least 115 persons killed by security forces between January and June 2021.

“Many relatives of the victims told Amnesty International that they were not part of the militants that were attacking security agents.

“Many of the victims were deposited at government hospitals in Imo and Abia state. According to several hospital sources, all the victims deposited by the police had bullet injuries.

“For instance, in two of the cases documented by Amnesty International, the victims were targeted with no apparent justification: Uguchi Unachukwu, a German-based businessman was killed by soldiers on 31 May at a checkpoint near Owerri airport on his way out of the country.

“The police are yet to investigate the crime and Mathew Opara, a 45-year-old businessman, was shot by soldiers on 25 May 2021 in Orji, near Owerri. His family said the military acknowledged the killing but did not launch an investigation or offer any apology.

“In May 2021, the Imo state government announced the arrest of at least 400 people allegedly linked to the violence. Amnesty International’s investigation indicates that most of them were randomly picked up in their homes and off the street and had nothing to do with ESN.

“Some victims told Amnesty International that they were arrested while walking in the street, at a public bar or simply for having birthmarks or tattoos on their body.

“What is needed is an impartial and open inquiry to determine what happened and bring to justice all those suspected of criminal responsibility in fair trials before ordinary civilian courts and without recourse to the death penalty,” Ojigho said.

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