Nzuko Umunna condemns constant killing of unarmed Igbo Youths in Nigeria

Thu, Sep 10, 2020
By editor
2 MIN READ

Politics

NZUKO Umunna, an Igbo socio-cultural think tank, has strongly condemned the constant killing of unarmed Igbo youths by security operatives in Nigeria

The group stated this while reacting to the extra-judicial killings that occurred on Sunday, August 23,  at Emene, Enugu State, involving Igbo youths and operatives of the Nigerian Police, Department of State Service, DSS, and Nigerian Army.

Nzuko Umunna noted that the extra-judicial killings took place when security operatives invaded a peaceful meeting of the youths.

Ahmed Abdurahman, Enugu State commissioner of police,  said that many of the youths “escaped with bullet wound and police have started tracing them.”

In a statement on Monday signed by Ngozi Odumuko, coordinator and Paschal Mbanefo and secretary, Nzuko Ummunna, said it received the report  with shock and deep concern.

“We note with grave concern the constant killing of unarmed Igbo youths by security operatives. This is unacceptable and must stop. However, we urge Igbo youths to refrain from retaliatory attacks.

“It is noteworthy that extra-judicial killings are a violation of the right to life as enshrined in Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999; Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, ACHPR, and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR”, the group said.

It commiserated with all the families that lost their loved ones in the latest bloodletting.

Nzuko Umunna, however, commended Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu State Governor, for his prompt visit to the scene of the extra-judicial killings.

“In particular, we urge the Governor to set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of these wanton killings including the exact number of victims, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

The group urged the Southeast Governors Forum, SEGF, and the South East Joint Security Committee to urgently activate the long-awaited regional security network to reassure citizens on the security of lives and property, and to find ing a sustainable framework towards resolving the longstanding security challenges and extra-judicial killings in the region.

It called on Justice Priscilla Emehelu, chief judge of Enugu State, to urgently convene a coroner’s inquest on these extra-judicial killings.

– Sept. 10, 2020 @ 18:35 GMT |

 

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