Group Raises Alarm Over Increasing Rate Of Human Rights Violation In Ebonyi

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, October 18th, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – An organization, Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has decried the current alarming rate of human rights violation in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria.

It said the area is fast becoming the most dangerous state to live in South East region, adding that “the events in Ebonyi state in recent times are not only worrisome but dangerous in a democracy.

According to the human right group, thus Ranges from killings, enforced disappearances and dangerous activities of the state funded militia gang tagged Ebube Agu.

” It would be recalled that five engineers from NELAN construction company were abducted in November 2021, up till date they were nowhere to be found and the families are accusing the state government for being responsible for the enforced disappearance of the victims.

The rights Organization in a statement issued by its president, Olu Omotayo Esq, on Monday and made available to African Examiner in Enugu, submitted “that if the activities in Ebonyi State is not properly handled and curtailed, it will definitely have a negative effect on the other southeast states.

“There have been reports of killings of innocent citizens in the state and enforced disappearances fueled by activities of militia gangs.

It noted that “the recent abduction of the Labour party Senatorial candidate Hon. Linus Abba Okorie by Ebube Agu its’ to say the least crude and unconstitutional.

“The defense of the activities of Ebube Agu by the state Police Commissioner that Hon. Okories refused to honor police invitation based on a petition written on behalf of the State governor to the Police sometimes in March 2022, clearly shows that the Commissioner of Police neither know the constitutional rights and duties of the police nor know his left hand from the right.

” How would a state Police Command come out to say that it was not able to arrest a citizens who has been moving freely within the state since March 2022, and the State Police Command never declare Okorie wanted until yesterday when the militia gang struck to assist the Police.

“We submit that the Police Service Commission should urgently intervene in the Ebonyi issue because we cannot have a police command that heavily relies on a militia gang to operate in a state of the Federation

“It is unfortunate that any reasonable government in a democracy will justify the activities of militia gang in the name of Ebube Agu.

“Though Ebube Agu supposed to be like “Neighborhood Watch” operating in some southeast states; to assist the security agents to arrest suspected criminals and give necessary information to the Police. But it is clearly evident that Ebube Agu in Ebonyi is gradually exceeding its’ lawful mandate and turning itself into a terror machine terrorizing and abusing the fundamental rights of the people of the state.

“The state government cannot under the guise of combating crimes and maintaining law and order continue to justify the continuous increase in rights violations in the state, which is not only barbaric but also illegal and unconstitutional.

“It is absurd to resort to the rule of the Jungle instead of respecting the Rule of Law” stressing that the action of the state government is highly condemnable because in the over 20 years of our democracy ,experience have laid down legal frameworks in addressing security issues in the states of the Federation.

“Examples of these could be seen in the Rivers State, Lagos State experience, and some other states where the Police are assisted by these states by giving them vehicles, armored personnel carriers and other security gadgets to curtail and subdued increase in crime rate.

“We find the actions of the State government and its approach in combating crimes disturbing because its’ like taking back the security operations in nthe country into the 19th century when militia gangs reigned and barbarity was the order of the day.

It stated that “We condemn in an unequivocal terms the actions and activities of the Ebonyi state government in condoning attacks on the innocent citizens of the state particularly members of the opposition parties.

“These situations, events and activities in Ebonyi state portend danger to Human Rights and Democracy Nigeria.