A non-governmental and advocacy group, Salvation and Service, has condemned the human rights violations and extra-judicial killing of innocent people by state and non-state actors in the South-East.
The group reacted to a recent report by Amnesty International that at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023 in the South East, saying it seems life has lost its sanctity in the area.
In a statement, Prince Tim Nwaro, General Secretary of SnS, described the Amnesty International report, tagged “A Decade of Impunity,” as “repulsive, reprehensible and repugnant.”
Nwaro said, “It is unfortunate that the South East has become a killing field because of government’s failure or refusal to address the security crises in the region. In fact, government is stoking the embers of insecurity through some of its actions or lack of it.”
The group highlighted the various incidents of human rights abuses in the region, including extra-judicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and destruction of property carried out by armed groups, state-backed militias, vigilantes, cult gangs, and security forces.
Nwaro added, “Many residents have stopped travelling to their hometowns for fear of being killed or abducted. Some traditional events such as weddings and funerals are increasingly held outside South East because of arrest or killing by government forces in the name of looking for members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, agitating for an independent Biafra.”
SnS cited specific cases of human rights abuses, including the murder of three sons of Mrs. Ukamaka Obasi, a native of Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Anambra State Headquarters, Awkuzu.
The group also highlighted the killing of Elder Victor Ogbonna in Abala Umuotu village, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, and the killing of a couple, Mr. Oko Onya and Mrs. Ngozi Onya, in Amuzu village, Nkpoghoro community, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The group condemned the wanton killings and destruction of property in the South East, urging authorities to release the bodies of those killed to their families for befitting burial. Nwaro said, “Enough is enough.”
The group called on the authorities to take immediate action to address the security crisis in the region and ensure that those responsible for the human rights abuses are held accountable.
