The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has waded into the controversy over Anambra State’s new security outfit, Agunechemba. It alleged that at least 40 persons have been killed under questionable circumstances by the security outfit within one month of its formation. The controversy worsened since the arrest of celebrity native
Agunechemba: Stop spilling innocent blood – Intersociety alleges 40 persons killed by Anambra outfit
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has waded into the controversy over Anambra State’s new security outfit, Agunechemba.
It alleged that at least 40 persons have been killed under questionable circumstances by the security outfit within one month of its formation.
The controversy worsened since the arrest of celebrity native doctor, Akwa Okukotiwaraki.
In a statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, Intersociety cautioned against the replication of the dreaded Bakassi Boys era in Anambra.
The group said the Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo-led Government of Anambra State should refrain “from making former Gov Chinweoke Mbadinuju’s fatal mistakes of 1999-2002 and moral damnation and generational consequences of shedding innocent blood that followed him and his inglorious epoch till date”.
The statement was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair, Intersociety, Chinwe Umeche, Head, Democracy and Good Governance Program, Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Head, Campaign and Publicity and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.
The rights group urged the state government to strictly go after suspected violent criminals, their sponsors and criminal properties across the State within the ambit of the law and due process.
It said, “The present Government of Anambra State must further be reminded that there are strict circumstances under which armed state and sub-state actors can kill such as strictly when they are under gun attacks which must be strictly guided by the principles of use of force and proportionality of the same.
“It is globally unlawful and expressly amounts to crimes against humanity or unlawful killings and executions to shoot and kill unarmed citizens irrespective of the gravity of offense alleged to have been committed by them; just as it is expressly a war crime to take a surrendered combatant into custody and turn around to kill him or her.
“It is also dangerously unlawful to use indiscriminate killings, abductions and disappearances as a measurement of law enforcement successes or provision of security as well as promotion of gallantry or recording of government achievements.
“Labeling unarmed citizens with phantom allegations of ‘being kidnappers or ritualists’, leading to their killings outside the law and levying unprecedented violence against their properties is a height of internationally prohibited acts or atrocity-conducts.”
Intersociety cautioned the government to “refrain from re-assembling ‘Bakassi Boys Henchmen’ whose atrocious acts caused the downfall of ‘his senior academic expert colleague in office’ (Assoc Prof Chinweoke Mbadinuju) including the gruesome murder of the duo of Barrister Barnabas Igwe, then respected Chairman of NBA, Onitsha Branch and his beloved pregnant wife, Barrister Amaka (AB Girl) Igwe, among dozens of notable political figures and thousands of innocent members of the public.
It alleged that apart from having spotted and sensed the return of some of ‘the Bakassi Boys Henchmen’ in the present Government of Anambra State, “the atrocious patterns and trends trailing their inglorious epoch including false labeling, trial by ordeal, hearsay conclusions and other forms of jungle justice have resurfaced; to the extent that using the above highlighted, no fewer than 40 persons have been killed outside the law and at least 30 properties worth billions of naira unlawfully razed down in less than one month; contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and Nigeria’s acceded Human rights Treaty Laws.
“No fewer than ten traditional religious sanctuaries, including two located at Okija have also been razed and their priests arrested or abducted and placed at high risk of imminent disappearance.
“Also, tens of thousands of others, including pastors and prophets, have been threatened.”
Agunechemba: Stop spilling innocent blood – Intersociety alleges 40 persons killed by Anambra outfit
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