Radio Biafra Director-General, Nnamdi Kanu
Following the recent warning by both the Nigerian military and police authorities in Abuja to peaceful pro- Biafra protesters, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed worry that the Nigerian military forces and police may take rash and violent actions against the hundreds of thousands of the unarmed protesters. The human rights group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to forestall any genocidal killings of civilian protesters in the South East where the protests have been going on, or risk indictment for war crimes at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague Netherlands for crimes against humanity.
Reiterating its readiness to compile and send evidence of war crime to the global crimes court should the military and police make good their inhumane and violent threats to deploy lethal weapons against totally unarmed street protesters, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed regret that the Nigerian military authority and the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force are still living in the past when brute force was the only law enforcement mechanisms as were practiced with crass impunity during the military dictatorships that have now been consigned to the dustbins of history.
HURIWA, in a jointly endorsed statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, also cautioned the military to use only constitutional and rights -based approach in conducting internal military operations and under no circumstances are they allowed to fire any shots with live bullets at protesters whether they are clamouring for self-rule or otherwise.
HURIWA argued that the clamour for self-government by citizens is permissible under all international humanitarian laws, just as the rights group stressed and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to look for democratic and constructive means to bring about truce in the South East of Nigeria and indeed President Muhammadu Buhari must release forthwith Mr Nnamdi Kanu from the underground cells of the Department for State Security in compliance with a binding court order as he is currently a prisoner of conscience.
HURIWA said the operation of the so called pirate Radio Biafra from the European continent by the Independent Peoples of Biafra led by the detained Mr Nnamdi Kanu does not constitute any valid offence in Nigeria to warrant his state sponsored kidnap and detention under inhumane conditions. HURIWA said Nnamdi Kanu is a political Prisoner and must be released unconditionally.
Like the HURIWA, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Sunday renewed calls for the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement signed by Mr Eric Omare, IYC Spokesman, and issued in Yenagoa, the youth body noted that haven been granted bail and bail conditions fulfilled, it amounts to illegality for the Directorate of State Security (DSS) to continue keep Kanu in detention.
The IYC further called on security agencies to have regard for the rule of law in the exercise of their constitutional functions.
It advocated for use of dialogue rather than military might to resolve the issues leading to protests by pro Biafra protests in parts of the country and urged the security agencies to respect the fundamental human rights of the protesters.
According to IYC, “To adopt a military approach to crush pro-Biafra protesters as being suggested by some military operatives is not the solution.
“It would only escalate the crisis. We warn against military brutalisation and human rights abuse by security agencies. The right to peaceful protest is an integral part of a democratic society.
“The massive pro-Biafra protests in recent times has once more brought to the fore the need to honestly and holistically renegotiate the terms of Nigerian’s existence as a nation.
“To claim that all is well with Nigeria is self-deceit. The structure of Nigeria must be such that would allow people from different regions to develop at their own pace towards realisation of the full potentials with been hindered by the wish of people from other parts of the country.”
admin
