Says IPOB has right to free expression, assembly
· Nigerians must fight for their rights
 
Amnesty Internation­al (AI), the global hu­man rights body, has stated that supporters of the Indigenous Peoples of Bi­afra (IPOB) have a right to free­dom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The organization also noted that it was still investigating dis­turbing reports of the massacre of unarmed members of IPOB and their alleged burial in a mass grave in Aba, Abia State, by Nigerian se­curity operatives.
The organization also stated that extra-judicial killing remains a major issue in Nigeria, beyond the context of the security opera­tions in the North-East.

The organization said it was very concerned about what is hap­pening in the South East of Ni­geria - going by reports of har­assment and intimidation of unarmed people exercising their basic freedoms of expression and assembly.
 
According to Amnesty, Nige­rians must understand and fight for their rights - given the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to the Rome Treaty.

The global body expressed these positions at the launch of Amnesty International Annual Re­port 2015/2016, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, yesterday.
Ambassador M.K. Ibrahim, the Country Director of AI, field­ed questions from journalists after the report presentation. His words: “We are extremely worried and con­cerned at what is happening in the South-East because of the treatment of the supports of IPOB with regards to their freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

“While Amnesty does not re­port or work on issues of self-deter­mination, which are political issues, we are terribly concerned with the steps being taken by the authorities to violate freedom of expression and freedom of assembly of the IPOB.

“Amnesty has a standard in con­ducting these investigations. We have seen pictures, we have heard stories. But before Amnesty Interna­tional will publish anything we have to verify. We have very rigid verifi­cation standard and that is what we are doing right now.

“We want whatever we print to stand by it. I can assure you that soon you will see our report on the plight of IPOB in the context of ex­pressing their freedom of expression and right to assembly.


“We are concerned with the cas­es, the stories we are seeing about people being killed while protest­ing. Let me emphasise again that our verification standard has no short-cut. At the moment we are investi­gating.”

Responding to its position on extra-judicial killings in Nigeria, Amnesty said that, “Ex-judicial kill­ing is a major issue here, beyond the context of the security operations in the North-East. And this is one of the issues that ignited Boko Haram - the extra-judicial killing of Mo­hammed Yusuf.”

On the Nigerian military and rights violations, it stated that, “The military is an honourable institution and should be a respectable organi­zation everywhere in the world. We thought that the Nigerian military should also be in that class. We have nothing against the military as an institution.

“But in the conduct of their operations in the North-East – and this fact-finding and research took us two years – we found out unfor­tunately that there was gross human rights violations by the military.

We have gathered a lot of evidence as we have indicated in our report.
“We have 90 videos, inter­viewed over 490 witnesses, victims and doctors. We know from our re­search, especially using technology, that such violations actually took place. What we are asking is for the government which has an obliga­tion and a duty to protect the life of every Nigerian to look into these complaints.

“We have made recommenda­tions and there should be an inde­pendent, impartial panel of inves­tigators to look into these human rights violations. The purpose of do­ing this is to ensure that we stop the preponderance of such violations. The government has promised us that these violations will be inves­tigated.”

On the laid-back attitude of Ni­gerians with regards to regular vio­lations of their rights, Amnesty stat­ed that citizens must wake up and fight for their rights.
 
 In Ibrahim’s words: “Nigerians should wake up and fight for their rights. Human rights education is the key here. Nigeria is signatory to the Rome Treaty. If Nigeria is violat­ing its constitution, ultimately it’s for Nigerians to fight for our rights. We have a constitution.
“If the constitution says that you should not be detained for more than 24 hours and we see people detained for months, years; it is our duty as Nigerians to say that we are not respecting our constitution.

“It is only when we do that that our rights will be respected; will be protected by our government and security agencies.”
In its report proper, present­ed in a summary format, Amnes­ty noted that: “Protests for an inde­pendent state of Biafra took place in the South and South East. On 14 October, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB and director of Radio Bi­afra, was arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy, managing and belongin to an unlawful society and intimidation.
“On 17 December, the Federal High Court in the capital Abuja or­dered his unconditional release from the custody of the Department of State Services.

“However, he was not released and charged with treason on 18 De­cember. He remained in detention at the end of the year.”
Amnesty’s summary report swept through the March 28, 2015 general elections, conflict between the military and Boko Haram and war crimes on both divides; retire­ment of all service chiefs appointed by former President Goodluck Jon­athan by President Muhammadu Buhari, Dasukigate, communal vio­lence, death penalty, housing/wom­en rights, corporate accountability and deficits in criminal justice ad­ministration in Nigeria.






http://www.authorityngr.com/2016/02/ABA--MASS-GRAVE---We-re-still-investigating--Amnesty-International/

I have always argued that there are better and more mature ways to handle this issue of IPOB protests than shooting of unarmed protesters, the major reason the USA does not sell arms to Nigeria is because of the incessant and flagrant abuse of human rights by her armed forces...one day I believe one day the chicken will come home to roost. this IPOB issue may the final nail on the Nigerian coffin if the government does not handle it carefully.
Governors of South East and Ohaneze are just watching while this massacre is going on right under their noses, this matter goes beyond just condemning the activities of IPOB when the military under Ihejirika was fighting Boko Haram, the northerners condemned his method and even went as far as petitioning him to the Hague, even with the grave danger associated with Boko Haram it never stopped Arewa from speaking up.

Does Amnesty International ever investigate crimes by law enforcement in America towards blacks or do they only "investigate" African countries?

Too much of human right violations.

Lalasticlala, mynd44, showyourcertificate, ngeneukwenu, beremx, seun, omenkata, drss, tallesty1, mynd1, abagoro, dearpreye, firefire, ozoigbondu, bobbystanley dunkem21 nextgovernor abduljabbar4 idisuleourown shachris

ishiamu:
Lalasticlala, mynd44, showyourcertificate, ngeneukwenu, beremx, seun, omenkata, drss, tallesty1, mynd1, abagoro, dearpreye, firefire, ozoigbondu, bobbystanley dunkem21 nextgovernor abduljabbar4 idisuleourown shachris

they r cumin

“We want whatever we print to stand by it. I can assure you that soon you will see our report on the plight of IPOB in the context of ex­pressing their freedom of expression and right to assembly.

We can't wait. at the end victory will be assured

I dare to tell Buhari to stop killing my brothers.
Adugo is back again!

This can only happen in the Zoo

Tomorrow one stupid man will tell you that Nigeria is one....... Since i was born i have never heard about one Ghana, one America, one Holland etc. it is only in Nigeria that you hear one Nigeria........

As we all know, the Buhari administration is not a respecter of the constitution. Not even Buhari or his fellow APC followers know about the doctrine of "presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent court". That's why Buhari came on live TV to declare Dasuki and Kanu guilty, that's Buhari doesn't know what bail means and that's why you APC supporters shouting 'jail him!' 'Execute him!' 'Hang him'.


Every time that Amnesty international and other human rights organisations report the killings,torture and illegal arrest of people, it not only discredits the regime of Buhari, it also seriously dents the image of Nigeria because these organisations have a worldwide following.

I have no doubt in my mind that the murderous regime of Buhari will slaughter thousands more Nigerians before the first term is over. Buhari is an ex military man who thinks that everything in life is solved by guns and bullets.

Cc: lalasticlala

d dullard need to be draged before icc ASAP. killing unarmed protesters is serious crime against humanity.

zendy:
As we all know, the Buhari administration is not a respecter of the constitution. Not even Buhari or his fellow APC followers know about the doctrine of "presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent court". That's why Buhari came on live TV to declare Dasuki and Kanu guilty, that's Buhari doesn't know what bail means and that's why you APC supporters shouting 'jail him!' 'Execute him!' 'Hang him'.


Every time that Amnesty international and other human rights organisations report the killings,torture and illegal arrest of people, it not only discredits the regime of Buhari, it also seriously dents the image of Nigeria because these organisations have a worldwide following.

I have no doubt in my mind that the murderous regime of Buhari will slaughter thousands more Nigerians before the first term is over. Buhari is an ex military man who thinks that everything in life is solved by guns and bullets.

d dullard's regime is already d worst govt eva in d history of mankind.

brize:
Tomorrow one stupid man will tell you that Nigeria is one....... Since i was born i have never heard about one Ghana, one America, one Holland etc. it is only in Nigeria that you hear one Nigeria........

one nigeria is d biggest scam of d century.

Igbos can continue to kill themselves , no one cares

All these propaganda is dead on arrival

The Nigerian military has shown restraint in the face of provocation from the mentally disturbed IPOB youths

When they attack the military , they should be ready to face the consequences next time

Nonsense

APC killing Igbos

Hmmn

c

I dont believe this story of the NA killing Igbos in Abia and then dugging mass graves to bury them. Igbos on their FB page are full of propaganda

LoveMachine:
Does Amnesty International ever investigate crimes by law enforcement in America towards blacks or do they only "investigate" African countries?

Where else in the world do soldiers fire at unarmed protesters if not Africa and the middle east??

Buhari government leave Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen that are armed to murder armless civilians in their village for mass burial.

From Kaduna to Aba and Port Harcourt the story is the same in eight months of Buhari administration. Are we under military dictatorship? Wat happened to our democracy?

I stopped taking these guys serious since the bokoharam NA war crime bullsh*t

Buhari has never opened fire on Fulanis Carrington AK 47 everywhere in the SS, NC and SS. He has never condemn for once on their activities.

We Know their agenda. "But all things work together for good to them that trust God".

What goes around, comes around.

God bless the Igbos who are Igbos.

Adherence to rule of law and human right ended with Yaradua.

is it not in this country that El-zazaky was shot and arrested and till today he is held by our armed men on uniform, no trial in any court and we pretend that all is well.

go on youtube and see the carnage and heinious nature of our military in this regime.

lets keep hailing Bubu...the draconian sword will get to us all soon.

.....

Nigeria baffles me. Government sending its Army to murder its citizens. Unbelievable. How did we get here?