A coalition of civil society
organisations (CSOs) has expressed shock at the deployment of soldiers
to the southeast despite allegations of human rights violations against
them.
On November 24, Amnesty International had released a report cataloging
violations including extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances,
torture, unlawful arrest and detention of Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) members and supporters by the military.
Owing to a seeming lack of action on the report, the groups called on
President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately set up an independent panel to
investigate the allegations.
“We are further particularly alarmed, that despite these chilling
allegations, authorities at both federal and state levels of government
have instead decided to further militarise the affected areas in the
guise of ‘operation python dance’.
“While acknowledging the need for the protection of law and order across
the country, we consider the recent announcement of increased
deployment of military personnel to the south-east region as an
unnecessary move that risks stoking further tensions within the
communities,” a statement issued by the CSOs through Amnesty
International, Nigeria, read.
“We also believe that the deployment of the military to police public
gatherings across the country has directly contributed to the high
numbers of casualties. In many recent incidents, including those
documented in the Amnesty International report, the military seems to
have chosen tactics designed to kill and neutralise an enemy. Many of
the shootings were clearly outside any concept of public order
management and amounted to extrajudicial executions.”
They also called on the government to immediately end the involvement of
the military in public order operations throughout the country.
“Additionally, we are worried that military personnel assigned to this
operation, will see it as a carte blanche for committing further human
rights violations. The government’s decision to turn immediately to the
military to control internal public order situations has seriously
undermined the role of the Nigerian police and has led to unnecessary
loss of lives.
“We therefore call on the authorities to ensure that they make public,
the rules of engagement for this operation and take steps to prevent
acts of human rights violations.”
“The governors of Abia, Anambra, Delta and Rivers states should set up
judicial commissions of inquiry to investigate the allegations
documented in Amnesty International’s report,” they added.
Some of the CSOs are Centre for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy,
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and CLEEN Foundation.
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