•Asks for Massive Transfers of Senior Military, Police Officers In East
•Dismantle1500 Military, 4000 Police Roadblocks
Alphonsus Nweze
A pro-democracy and civil rights group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, (Intersociety), has warned the Federal Government of Nigeria that the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, should not die in the detention facility of Directorate of State Security (DSS).
Addressing World Press Conference on Sunday in Enugu, Enugu State, the group warned that hell would let loose if anything happens to Biafran self-determination agitator.
The warning stemmed from the alarm raised by Kanu’s lawyer that he is indisposed and need medical attention abroad.
It was also said that DSS complained that the money for the feeding of Kanu has been exhausted but the family reacted, stating that it was not long they released about one million naira for his feeding.
But the chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Nze Emeka Umeagbalasi, addressing newsmen made it clear that it was the duty of the detaining authority to give the person under their custody the best medical attention or even fly the person abroad if there is need.
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafran agitators, stressing that they either release him now or he would be released later by the next Government that would take over the mantle of leadership from President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said President Buhari and his cabals should release Kanu as part of their exit strategy, noting that socio-legal system of the country would definitely change next year by the time Buhari winds up his administration.
Also, the group called for massive transfer of senior military and Police officers in the East for subjecting the region under siege.
“It has also been observed that the deployed security forces and their commanders in the East have earned notoriety in using corrupted, concocted and biased intelligence on security in the East. These are in addition to ethnic profiling, false labeling, class criminalisation, and stigmization of defenceless Easterners while turning blind eyes on genocidal and atrocious activities of others such as Jihadists Fulani Herdsmen and imported bandits.”
He said the only solution is to muster public opinion, pressure groups and stakeholders ahead of February 25, 2023 presidential election.
On the military and Police, the Presidency should embark on massive transfer of senior military and Police officers and other security outfits
Intersociety called for immediate dismantling of of about 1500 military and 4000 Police Road blocks in the entire East.
Umeagbalasi said that the road blocks in the East do not serve any other purpose except criminal and extortionist purposes, including aiding and abetting rising crime in the entire East.
The BoT chairman said their recent study showed that 81 Igbo communities playing host to military and Police patrols and roadblocks, were found to have recorded highest concentration of crime.
Hence, the urgent need to dismantle the existing 15,000 military and 4,000 Police checkpoints in the entire East.
