Igbo Group
Igbo Group Bemoan Killing of Youths by Security
Agents
Uzoko Umunna, an Igbo socio-cultural think tank has condemned
what it described as the constant killing of unarmed Igbo youths by
security operatives.
The group gave this stance while reacting to the killings that
occurred on Sunday, August 23, 2020 at Emene, Enugu State involving
Igbo youths and operatives of the Nigerian Police, Department of
State Service (DSS) and Nigerian Army.
Nzuko Umunna noted that the extra-judicial killings took place
when security operatives invaded a peaceful meeting of the youths,
while the Enugu State Commissioner of Police Ahmed Abdurahman
conceded that many of the youths “escaped with bullet wound and
police have started tracing them.”
In a statement on Monday signed by Ngozi Odumuko, Coordinator
and Paschal Mbanefo and Secretary, Nzuko Ummunna, said it received
the report with shock and deep concern .
“We note with grave concern the constant killing of unarmed Igbo
youths by security operatives. This is unacceptable and must stop.
However, we urge Igbo youths to refrain from retaliatory
attacks.
“It is noteworthy that extra-judicial killings are a violation
of the right to life as enshrined in Section 33 of the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999; Article 4 of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), and Article 6 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)”, the
group said.
It commiserated with all the families that lost their loved ones
in the latest bloodletting.
Nzuko Umunna however commended the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi
Ugwuanyi for his prompt visit to the scene of the extra-judicial
killings.
“In particular, we urge the Governor to set up a Judicial Panel
of Inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of these
wanton killings including the exact number of victims, with a view
to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The group urged the South East Governors Forum (SEGF) and the
South East Joint Security Committee to urgently activate the
long-awaited regional security network to reassure citizens on the
security of lives and property, and to find ing a sustainable
framework towards resolving the longstanding security challenges
and extra-judicial killings in the region.
It called on the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Honourable Justice
Priscilla Emehelu to urgently convene a coroner’s inquest on these
extra-judicial killings.