• demands a judicial panel to identify those airlifted to Niger State
• beckons International community for justice
An Igbo socio-cultural group, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) has condemned the onslaught of Obigbo residents in Governor Nyesom Wike’s Rivers State, in the sequence of the #EndSARS protest.
In a statement signed by Mr Abia Onyike, Chairman, ADF Bureau of Media and Publicity, it described the ‘state-sponsored’ massacre as “a transfer of criminal liability” geared towards killing several peace-loving and innocent citizens of Obigbo.
Obinwannem News had previously reported irate youths protesting police brutality across the country ‘razed’ police stations, following the killings of protesters by policemen during the protests.
However, the unrest following the protest transpired in several parts of Nigeria; but took another dimension in Obigbo metropolis of Rivers State as armed forces began ‘maiming’ residents across the town, accusing the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, of attacking security posts and killing some security personnel.
Expressing strong disapproval of the killings, ADF described it a “war-grade genocide”. The group said Governor Wike and his troops should have utilised intelligence machinery to meticulously identify the culprits who actually attacked the State Security personnel instead of levelling the unjust killings on all and sundry.
ADF also pressed on the United Nations, and World powers to prevail on the crime against humanity, while requesting for a Commission of inquiry to the situation of all those secretly airlifted to Minna, Niger State who are currently in detention.
More so, it expects Rivers State governor Wike to tender an unreserved apology for his role in the bloody carnage.
Read the statement in details:
ALAIGBO DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (ADF)
PRESS RELAESE
ADF CONDEMNS THE OBIGBO MASSACRE AND CALLS ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO COME TO THE AID OF THE VICTIMS
After an extensive review and reflection on the recent war-grade invasion of Obigbo by the Nigerian military on the invitation of the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, the Alaigbo Development Foundation(ADF) hereby states as follows:
The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) does not and will not condone any unprovoked attack on Security officers of the State unless such an attack is in self-defense.
On this particular case, we expect that the State has adequate intelligence machinery to meticulously identify the culprits who actually attacked the State Security personnel. Indeed, the same security intelligence which indicted IPOB members as the culprits should also be capable of fishing out the real culprits.
It appears this was not the case. Instead, the government embarked on a transfer of criminal liability and ordered the military to pounce upon and kill several peace-loving and innocent citizens of Obigbo.
ADF notes with horror the alleged gruesome murder of over 40 persons in Obigbo, and about 100 wounded others, through “the horrific bloodshed and massive extrajudicial killings in Nigeria’s Oyigbo Community” as reported by Premium Times Nigerian News
The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) hereby with tears in our eyes call on the United Nations and other world powers, to prevail on the Rivers State Government and the Nigerian Government to release without any further delay those innocent victim who are still alive;
Rivers State Government should institute an urgent Judicial Commission of inquiry to uncover both the background and the extent of the killings as well as = the identity, number and state of all those secretly airlifted to Minna, Niger State who are currently in detention. The unconditional release of all those in Government custody.
Adequate compensation for all the victims of this grue-some massacre as well as pay adequate compensation and undertake the rehabilitation of affected families and the surviving victims.
We expect that Government shall take care of the security forces who may have died or wounded in the course of the unfortunate episode. ADF and the Coalition of Igbo Religious and Civil Society Organizations shall petition the United Nations (UN) and the Government of the United States (USA)and European Union(EU) to press for the seizure of the properties of the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike and to place him on a VISA ban with restrictions from traveling to Western Europe and the Americas.
ADF condemns the Igbo leaders who went to Port-Harcourt on a jamboree and paid a solidarity visit to Gov. Wike without visiting the scene of the genocide nor even expressing their sympathy for the innocent Igbo sons and daughters massacred in the course of this carnage.
We expect Governor Wike to tender an unreserved apology for his role in the bloody carnage.
At the same time we condemn all those who incite the youths to unnecessary reckless acts of heroism. Enough is enough! What the Igbo predicament demands now are very strategic and measured actions to protect our people from those who wish to destroy their lives, economy and
civilization and take over their ancestral homes.
Abia Onyike,
Chairman,
ADF Bureau of Media & Publicity.
Dec 8, 2020
Ozoemela Chikwas reporting, Obinwannem News
