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Group frowns at ‘extra-judicial killings’ of unarmed Igbo youths
BY NDUBUISI UWAEZU
An Igbo socio-cultural think tank, Nzuko Umunna, has condemned what it tagged “extra-judicial killings” in Emene, Enugu State on Sunday, when a team of security personnel swooped on a gathering of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Department of State Services (DSS) has already confirmed in a statement that it lost two of its personnel in the operation while an unstated number of IPOB members were reportedly killed and many more escaping with gunshot wounds.
Nzuko Umunna in a statement on Monday, signed by its Coordinator Ngozi Odumuko and Secretary Paschal Mbanefo, said it viewed “with shock and deep concern the extra-judicial 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.”
While commiserating with those that lost loved ones in the bloody encounter, the group frowned at the “constant killing of unarmed Igbo youths by security operatives”, saying that it was unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue.
It said that there were widespread reports that these extra-judicial killings took place when security operatives invaded a peaceful meeting of the youths.
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Part of the statement reads: “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).
“Nzuko Umunna commends 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.
“Nzuko Umunna requests the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Honourable Justice Priscilla Emehelu to urgently convene a coroner’s inquest on these extra-judicial killings.
“In finding a sustainable framework towards resolving the longstanding security challenges and extra-judicial killings in the region, we urge 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.”