Amnesty accuses Nigerian army of killing at least 17 unarmed Biafran separatists

Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:01am GMT Print | Single Page
LAGOS, June 10 (Reuters) - Amnesty International said on Friday that Nigeria's army last month killed at least 17 unarmed members of a group calling for secession from Africa's most populous nation, but the military dismissed the allegations as unfounded.

An army spokesman said Amnesty's accusations, the latest in a series of allegations of impropriety levelled against Nigeria's military in the last year, revealed a bias that undermined its credibility.

Amnesty's report -- which it said was based on details from eyewitnesses, morgues and hospitals -- says soldiers opened fire on members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and their supporters in the southeastern city of Onitsha during the build up to a march in late May.

The human rights group said the killings took place during a security operation in the early hours of the morning shortly before the march when the military raided homes and a church where IPOB members slept.

The army issued a statement in which it said troops had to "resort to self defence" after IPOB members attacked security agencies with "firearms" and various weapons including dynamite.

It said five members of IPOB were killed, eight wounded while nine were arrested.

"These efforts were in order to de-escalate the palpable tension as well as ward off the apparent threats to lives and property in the general area," it said.

Secessionist feeling has simmered in the southeast since the Biafra separatist rebellion tipped Nigeria into a 1967-70 civil war that killed an estimated 1 million people.

It flared up again last year after IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu was arrested and detained on charges of criminal conspiracy and belonging to an illegal society. He remains in detention.

Amnesty said its investigation showed at least 17 people were killed and nearly 50 injured, adding that "the real number is likely to be higher".

"Information gathered by Amnesty International indicates that the deaths of supporters and members of IPOB was the consequence of excessive, and unnecessary use of force," said Amnesty, which urged the government to investigate.

The contents of the report were rejected by army spokesman Sani Usman. "The allegations are unfounded," he said.

The report is the latest in a series of accusations levelled at the army by Amnesty.

Last year, Amnesty said more than 8,000 people died in detention during a crackdown on Boko Haram and that soldiers killed hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims in the northern city of Zaria in December.

"Amnesty is losing credibility," added Usman, who accused the group of being biased against the army. (Reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Toby Chopra)

http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFL8N191428?sp=true

I will b glad 2c bubuhari hang his wicked tyrant

lalasticlala, seun, MYND44, FP PLS

Problem don too plenty for this country.

ICC loading for the deaf president.

Buhari feigning Ear Drum problem haven realised he is a candidate of ICC!


Whichever way, we thank Chukwu Abiama!

A buffoon up there just called IPOB terrorists, well why am I not surprised, its a direct consequence of quota system, and I know he is also pretending to be a Christian

Anyway, the day of reckoning for the army and all security agents is at hand

A country that is in war with her citizens,shame on anybody that still supports these wicked being's.

Whether people like it or not the south will break from this nation.
It is imminent. You all can go on living in denial.
Buhari cannot stop it and neither can any man.

Go mark it on your wall for your children to remember.

irunooboo:
Amnesty should stop crying wolf where there is none. They are IPOB terrorists and you can't expect the military to fold their hands and let them break down law and order. Nnamdi kanu their terror leader taught them to become rebels on his evil radio before been locked up like a church rat that he his Anyone calling for the break up of Nigeria deserves the bokoharam treatment. Bokoharam has flags, IPOB has flags. Their common objective is to establish a sovereign state out of Nigeria which will never happen. Biafra will never come in Jesus name. Amen

So according to you Quebec citizens and Catalonians secessionist are terrorist too since they are seeking independence from Canada and Spain You seem to not to realize that Amnesty International, an International organization is an affiliate of United Nations, under whom the right to Self-Determination is enshrine in its charter. By international law, self determination by a section of a country, or a group of people is a RIGHT. International law supercede Nigerian law.

jakiedudu:
You seem to have forgoten that Amnesty International is an affiliate of United Nations under whom the right of self determination is enshrine in its charter. By international law, self determination by a group of people is a right. International law supercede Nigerian law.

There will never be biafra. We will resist it with our last strength. United we stand. Lord luggard saw a potential in us before giving power to the North

who deleted ma comment here?

irunooboo:




There will never be biafra. We will resist it with our last strength. United we stand. Lord luggard saw a potential in us before giving power to the North

It will BE interesting watching how oduduwa and arewa cope with blood tasty vampires that can't reason.

IPOB is same as Biafrans, they did not kill anybody or set out to commit crime or harm, yet Buhari deems it fit to go to their houses/ church and murder people whilst they sleep.

If a President go around murdering people that call themselves Arewa and Oduduwa, you will shout murder?

irunooboo:




There will never be biafra. We will resist it with our last strength. United we stand. Lord luggard saw a potential in us before giving power to the North

Your statement of Unity is even a contracdiction. Is Nigeria United You think Nigeria's Unity can be maintain by force You don't even know what you're writting.
For a better understanding of what 'Forced Unity' is, study the history of Yugoslavia and former USSR. Study these countries carefully, then you will understand why we are decieving ourselves here in Nigeria under ''Fasle Unity''.

The easiest way to actualise Biafra is for Buhari and Buratai to keeping commiting war crimes like criminals.


There case at ICC is just mounting and they have only spent 1 year, wat will happen in the next three years?


Buhari has a date with ICC, that am sure.

irunooboo:
Amnesty should stop crying wolf where there is none. They are IPOB terrorists and you can't expect the military to fold their hands and let them break down law and order. Nnamdi kanu their terror leader taught them to become rebels on his evil radio before been locked up like a church rat that he his Anyone calling for the break up of Nigeria deserves the bokoharam treatment. Bokoharam has flags, IPOB has flags. Their common objective is to establish a sovereign state out of Nigeria which will never happen. Biafra will never come in Jesus name. Amen

Yes my good brother searchiingforlove, we yoruba muslims have said it, we will support our fulani lords in everything they do because the fulani muslims are the 1st class citizens while we yoruba muslim follow them like happy slaves.

Boohary is working.

What some Nigerians don't seem to know is that world leaders, the committee of nations and international business corporations take Amnesty reports very serious. One way to guage a country moving forward with democracy is its human rights record. Nigerias human rights record is bad and it has steadily gotten worse since Buhari came to power. In one year of Buhari, the security agencies have killed more unarmed than GEJ's entire tenure in office. Shia murders, IPOB murders, South-South killings, the story is the same. The Government of Buhari has probably lost all goodwill by now. Gone are the days when many countries were falling over themselves to invite Buhari over like they did when he was first elected. I think that by now, they have all come to realise what we '5%' have always known, that Buhari is anything but a democrat. He is actually a modern day dictator, only he isn't wearing a green uniform any more. Nobody takes Nigeria seriously in the international community any more, that's why Cameron can call Nigeria names in front of the Queen.

Agunechemba1:
ICC loading for the deaf president.

ICC also awit your god gej for destroying a village in Borno.If I am not mistaken.The same Amenity international back the story of borning of the village.And what happened?If you ever believe that a Nigeria president will find his self in I,then you are the most stup-id person ever.

irunooboo:
Amnesty should stop crying wolf where there is none. They are IPOB terrorists and you can't expect the military to fold their hands and let them break down law and order. Nnamdi kanu their terror leader taught them to become rebels on his evil radio before been locked up like a church rat that he his Anyone calling for the break up of Nigeria deserves the bokoharam treatment. Bokoharam has flags, IPOB has flags. Their common objective is to establish a sovereign state out of Nigeria which will never happen. Biafra will never come in Jesus name. Amen

This post is a clear testament to what Gov Akpabio was saying about South West...sending mercenaries to destabilize other regions. Not just in physical destabilization but also via propaganda as we see daily on the vituperations and campaign of calumny against IPOB and militants, and labeling them as terrorist organization. Don't be also surprised that the hoodlums from Kogi who enter Anambra to destrupt Orient oil production could be yorubaa mercenaries doing this out of envy. This people can not live without Igbos....that's why they open threads about Igbos every day even at midnight. Igbos is their yardstick for measurement of their success.

As one gentlemen put it: Igbos compete solely among themselves because Igbos are confident in their abilities to trust each other's decisions, and that's why they want their own country. However Yorubaa don't compete among themselves but among Igbos because they dont trust each other's decision abilities, and that's why THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE....PREFER ONE NIGERIA TO KEEP LOOKING AT THE IGBOS TO LEARN YET HIDE UNDER ONE NIGERIA USING PROPAGANDA DRAG FEET WITH IGBOS AS IGBOS ARE YOUR MATE. If you are man enough, agree to separation and you will know what Israeli is doing to its Arab neighbors is a child's play. Biaffran aircraft will be encircling Ooduo Republic and Arewa Republic everyday as a show of might and superiority...and pray that I Uduak is not manning that aircraft because I won't be merciful.

Hmm too bad

Hmm