United States accuses Nigerian police, military, DSS of human rights violation, corruption, impunity

 United States accuses Nigerian police, military, DSS of human rights violation, corruption, impunity 

United States (US) authorities have indicted the Nigeria police, military, and Department of State Services (DSS) for corruption, human rights violation, and impunity.

US Department of State said this in the 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Nigeria.

“Impunity, exacerbated by corruption and a weak judiciary, remained a significant problem in the security forces, especially in police, military, and the Department of State Services,” US Department of State said in the report.

“Police, the military, and the Department of State Services reported to civilian authorities but periodically acted outside civilian control.

“There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed numerous abuses.”

The report contained incidents of extrajudicial killings, stifling of free speech, human rights violations, political witch-hunting, and others issues in Nigeria.

"On August 20, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that more than 24,000 persons were registered as missing in the country, with the majority from the conflict area in the North East. There were reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities." 

"According to Amnesty International, the whereabouts of at least 50 suspected supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra group arrested in Rivers State between October and November 2020 remained unknown at year’s end. "

The US said the opaque nature of disciplining offending officials encourages impunity and that the systems shield erring officers found culpable in multiple crimes.

“The government regularly utilized disciplinary boards and mechanisms to investigate security force members and hold them accountable for crimes committed on duty, but the results of these accountability mechanisms were not always made public,” US Department of State said.

Two of Nigeria’s antigraft agencies – the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were cited for inconclusive prosecution of public officials charged for corruption.

The US Department of State report accused the antigraft agencies of being selective and “focused on low- and mid-level government officials.” It, however, acknowledged that both organisations brought indictments against various active and former high-level government officials.

“Many of the corruption cases, particularly the high-profile ones, remained pending before the courts due to administrative or procedural delays,” the report said, stating that the government deliberately underfunds the judiciary to make it ineffective.

On human rights violations, the report noted that the National Committee against Torture established by the Ministry of Justice has been hindered from working effectively due to a “lack of legal and operational independence and limited funding.”

“Prison and detention centre conditions remained harsh and life-threatening,” the report said. “Prisoners and detainees reportedly were subjected to gross overcrowding, inadequate medical care, food and water shortages, and other abuses. Some of these conditions resulted in deaths.”

Governor Soludo, should trade with Caution

 Governor Soludo, should trade with Caution 

The current governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo has Inaugurated a committee, which he said to have instituted for the purpose of reconciling the government with every victims of misdeeds in the state. 

This is a good move from the governor because it appears like saying "the government should take responsibility for every disorder in the society". Because, in societies with decent leadership, some of such disorders and chaos are usually minimal. However, Soludo should be extremely careful with the way he is going about achieving this, to avoid stepping on the will of the same society he is wanting to make right.

The journey of governance or leadership should be rooted in integrity and human development. These are supposed to be the basic tenets of leadership which Professor Chukwuma Soludo should rightfully harness in order to give the indigenous citizens of Anambra a reason to once again believe in the political stratagem of the South East leaders. But yet again, he has shown to be no different from others in the corrupt political class of governance.

It cannot be over-emphasized that the exercise of civilian's disobedience amidst a government's dehumanization, genocide and subjugation is a civil right. This is what the people of Anambra, and the whole Biafra have communicated.

The Anambra Governor should revisit what his original targets were at the time of his assuming the governorship office of Anambra State. He should be more aligned with doing what his people need from his government, not fighting the people's will.

Reconciliation is beautiful. But, what is your actual direction. The Citizens have gone beyond the hypocrisy of religious propaganda and can easily tell when they are being manipulated. Those members of your reconciliation committee, are they representatives of the people? Will they serve the best interest of the people, because that is what it should all be about?

Do not make the mistake some other leaders have made. The committees instituted by some of them in the past have rather turned to witch-hunt the people instead of servicing them.

Your peace and reconciliation committee should be ladened with the root cause of whatever you are willing to stop and not propaganda.

Make your bold steps in pushing for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, then the sit-at-home protest will stop in the whole Biafra land. Stop forcing the stop from a wrong angle.

#FreeMaziNnamdiKanu

#FreeBiafra

Written by Anioke Chukwunonso

Edited by Ogah C S Maduabuchi

For Family Writers Press International 

IPOB disassociate self from Imo INEC Attack, says Nigeria Govt, Politicians Sponsoring Terror Attacks To blackmail the Movement

 IPOB disassociate self from Imo INEC Attack, says Nigeria Govt, Politicians Sponsoring Terror Attacks To blackmail the Movement 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has dissociated itself in the ongoing insecurity in Biafra land. It will be recalled that on 14th of April 2022, unknown gunmen numbering about 12, stormed the Ihitte Uboma local government area in Imo State and shot dead a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Okorie Anthony, at the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration Exercise, CVRE.

These masked men have been terrorizing the region for many years now. IPOB through its media spokesperson, Emma Powerful dissociates IPOB from the terror attack and vowed to unearth those behind the dastardly act. The press statement reads in full

"We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, strongly condemn the attack on INEC staff at Ihite Uboma LGA of Imo State.  We are also warning these traitors and enemies of Biafra behind these barbaric attacks to stop or be ready to reap the reward of their atrocities. IPOB cannot afford to allow them to continue to terrorise our people or demonise our peaceful organisation as some uninformed people appoint accusing fingers at us.

IPOB is not happy with these criminal activities going on in our region because we don't want this to continue and we are going to expose those behind this evil in the region.  Anybody involved in this act will regret it. We totally disassociate ourselves from this act of criminality.  IPOB volunteers and ESN have no hands in this criminal act that criminals randomly carry out against our people. 

We have made it clear to the public severally that IPOB Family members are not unknown gunmen and we cannot be because we have objective which is to restore Biafra as a free, Independent and Sovereign Nation.

Anybody who is involved in this evil act on INEC officers at Ihite Uboma LGA will pay dearly.  The masterminds  are being sponsored by unfortunate politicians thinking they can jeopardise our decision to make Biafra freedom a reality. 

We want to make it publicly known that IPOB and its security units did not attack INEC officers in Imo State. We are aware that Nigeria Government and their collaborators are sponsoring these criminal groups to attack our people in the name of IPOB to instigate crisis so people can disassociate themselves from IPOB activities and the entire world will see IPOB as terror group but they will fail and will not raise their ugly heads again. We promise them so. "

IPOB will not relent in discovering those behind this devilish activities and  expose them.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB. 

Gross Human Rights Violations: DSS Claims That Idara Has Been Transferred To Kanji Military Barracks In Niger State

 Gross Human Rights Violations: DSS Claims That Idara Has Been Transferred To Kanji Military Barracks In Niger State

After 158 days of detaining Godwin Idara, and totally denying her family and lawyer the access to see her, in the Department of State Service (DSS) have continued to aggressively violate the rights of this innocent girl. Now, they claim to have transfered her to a military detention facility in Wawa Kainji, Niger State.

The 20years old Godwin Joy Idara was abducted in Enugu on 8th November, 2021. According to the DSS, the investigations about her case was concluded since 15th January, 2022. They further told the lawyer that Idara's offence was that she wore Biafra colored attire during her birthday celebration, and that she also campaigned for Biafra on her social media wall, Facebook precisely.

DSS in a document served on 5th April 2022 also stated "That on 13th February, 2022, the Idara was transferred to the military detention facility Wawa Kainji, awaiting trial".

The family members of Godwin Joy Idara have been asking "Why would a civilian case of our daughter be transferred to the military, after an investigations conducted by the DSS"? And more especially when the concluded investigation by DSS did not show their daughter's vto have committed any crime known to law?

"Why have DSS refused us to see our daughter and confirm if she is alive after 158 days of abduction"?

"Why have DSS refused to charge our daughter to court since her abduction on 8 November 2021 in Enugu state"?

"Please, we are calling on human rights organizations and media authorities to help us in saving our daughter from the unlawful incarceration and gross violation of her fundamental rights as a human."-- Idara's family cries.

Family Writers Press International

Reporting 

Biafra, Oduduwa, Ambazonia Agitators Plan One-Million-Man March in June, at EU headquarters in Belgium says IPOB

Biafra, Oduduwa, Ambazonia Agitators Plan One-Million-Man March in June, at EU headquarters in Belgium says IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra has said it is planning a one-million-man march with pro-Oduduwa and Ambazonia agitators at the European Union headquarters in Belgium to press for their freedom.

The movement said this followed the consistent moves by the three nations for their freedom.

The Media and Publicity Secretary, IPOB, Emma Powerful, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

Powerful said the rally for the emerging nations in West Africa aims to disclose their predicaments to the world on that day.

The group said the EU authorities had approved the rally in Brussels, Belgium, for the three emerging nations in West Africa and other nations in Africa.

The killings and burning of houses in these three emerging nations have gone beyond human comprehension. Many people are dying every day at the hands of the Nigerian and Cameroon governments.

The statement read in full

Following the consistent  moves to restore  Biafra, Oduduwa and Ambazonia by the global movements pursuing these three nations, we the global movement and and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra ably led by our great and indefatigable leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, wish to announce to the good people of Biafra, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom across the world that the emerging nations in Africa are expected to hold a one million man march at the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on the 14th and 15th June 2022. The one million-man march for the emerging nations in West Africa will disclose our predicaments to the world on that day. 

The emerging nations of Biafra, Ambazonia and Oduduwa  are expected to be in Belgium on 14th and 15th of June 2022 at European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium to inform the European Union that they are prepared  to be on their own.

The authorities in Brüssels Belgium have approved our ONE MILLION MAN MARCH in Brüssels Belgium on that day for the three emerging nations in West Africa and other nations in Africa.

The protest for these emerging nations will display our needs to get these nations and every Biafran, Oduduwa and Ambazonian citizens living in Europe, America Asia and home to be present on that day to grace the epoch event. It will be a landmark event and we must let Europeans to know reasons we pursue these nations' existence. 

This is to show Europe and the entire world why we need these new nations in Africa to emerged. 

Therefore, our people must make sure they let the world understand our predicaments and what we are facing in the hands of Nigeria and Cameron. The Nigeria Government and Cameron government are terrorists nations and we will not allow them to trample on our people and kill them at random. 

The killings and burning of houses in these three emerging nations has gone beyond human comprehension, our people are dying every day in the hands of Nigeria and Cameroon governments.  

Our people should come out enemass to let them know that we are seriously in need of these three emerging nations.

IPOB, Ambazonia and Oduduwa nations are expecting their sons and daughters scattered all over the world because of the humiliation, torture and killings going on in our land.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB.

The Nigeria DSS Should Tell Us The Whereabouts Of Godwin Idara

 The Nigeria DSS Should Tell Us The Whereabouts Of Godwin Idara

Family Writers Press International(FWPI) has on the 10th of April, 2022 received another report on how the Nigeria Department of State Services(DSS) have continually resfused go provide Godwin Idara before the court or tell her whereabout people and lawyer.

According to Barrister Nnaemeka Ejiofor, Idara's lawyers; "Each time we go to court for the enforcement of Godwin Joy Idara's fundamental right application that was filed in the month of November last year 2021, the Judge keeps giving us excuses. She keeps saying that she is not ready for the hearing of Godwin Idara's case. As a result, she has kept on adjourning the matter without any reasons for us to take home".

Recall that Godwin Joy Idara was abducted in Enugu on 8th November 2021, and an information was later received that she has been transferred to Abuja DSS Headquarters. But since her abduction, all efforts made to see her by both her lawyer and her family members  have proved abortive. The DSS have cruelly denied everyone the chance to see Idara and assertain what her condition is even like.

This case of Idara's illegal abduction was filed before Justice Maha's presided Federal High Court 11, Abuja in the above stated month. And the last court hearing date was 6th April 2022. But immediately it was time for Idara's matter, the Judge looked at Idara's lawyer and said "I'm not ready for this matter now, therefore, come back in the next 4 months, 21 July 2022".

This led the applicant's lawyer to start wondering what is actually going on? He told the Judge that this matter is about the enforcement of his client's fundamental right which was filed since November 2021. Barrister Nnaemeka reminded the judge that the DSS have blatantly refused to charge the girl to court or even allow the lawyer or parents see her in their custody.

Yet, the judge ignored him and moved on to another matter. That is how Idara's case of 6th April 2022 was not also heard.

So, the lawyer decided on that same day to make some more serious investigative moves on the true state of Idara, considering the obviously suspicious behaviors of the Judge. It was then that Barrister Nnaemeka Ejiofor learnt from the DSS that Godwin Idara is no more at their DSS custody in Abuja. But they did not tell where she has been moved to.

The question now is, Where have they kept Idara?

According to the lawyer, the DSS said that the investigations about Idara was concluded since 15th January, 2022. They further told the lawyer that Idara's offence was that she wore Biafra colored attire during her birthday celebration, and that she also campaigned for Biafra on her social media wall, Facebook precisely.

However, the DSS should have charged Idara to court, regarding these accusations. Yet till today, they have refused to do so.

Currently, Godwin Joy Idara is no more at DSS custody in Abuja. On one, including the family and lawyer knows where the DSS kept her and continuously subjecting her to torture.

The DSS should be reminded that Self-determination is a fundamental right of every human. This is clearly stated in the United Nation's Charter, which the Nigerian government is a signatory to. How then does campaigning for freedom on social media become unlawful?

Why are the human rights organizations so deadly silent about this matter? Why are the women rights organizations not saying anything to condemn this evil that is being meted on an innocent girl?

The DSS must tell the whereabout of Godwin Joy Idara to her people and lawyer. Or release her outrightly bacause she has not committed any crime known to law.

#freeidaragold 

#FREEIDARAGOLDBIAFRA 

Family Writers Press International, reporting

Insecurity: Governor Soludo Should Recall What The Real Safety Threats Of The Anambra People Are

 Insecurity: Governor Soludo Should Recall What The Real Safety Threats Of The Anambra People Are

As long as the executive governor of Anambra State have continued making pronouncements regarding the security challenges in the State. I do wish to call his attention to the list of security threats bedeviling the people of Anambra, and the wider South East region. They are:

1. Akuzu SARS

2. Nigerian Military Officer with no official identify

3. Fulani herdsmen

4. Political Thugs.

If the Governor of Anambra State truly desires to fight insecurity to a standstill in his state, he should first visit the Akuzu Abattoir. That police station is supposed to be investigated and closed down completely. The disappearance of various youths of Anambra have mostly had a trace to the Akuzu police station. Why is there no panel of inquiry and an independent investigators assigned to uncover the atrocities by the police in that station.

The next thing Governor Soludo should look into is why there are Nigerian Military Officers with no official identify in Anambra. This is the most recent and brutal of all the security challenges. Chukwuma Soludo should as a matter of urgency, request the identity of all military officers who are posted to Amass road blocks along our peaceful communities. This will help protect lives of citizens and commuters along our roads and checkmate unprovoked killing of civilians. Enough of such wanton killings by unidentifiable Nigerian military personnel.

The Fulani herdsmen is the next in this list. According to word terrorism index, this group is the 4th most deadliest terror group in the world. The former inspector general of Police called them foreigners right on the floor of the Senate. So, they should be rightly seen as such. These Invaders have consistently raped our mothers, killed our fathers, kidnapped our young girls and occupied our farmlands. They pose community insecurity and must be evacuated from Anambra. The only security system that has fought the excesses of this group is Eastern Security Network(ESN).  Gov. Soludo should do something imminently about the remaining activities of this group. It is most necessary now because, averting any possibility of food scarcity in Anambra should also be part of his plans.

Finally, the harms being caused by political thugs must be stopped. These are politically active and paid civilians, used to stir tension within the state. They are used by politicians to destroy the people and their collective economic stability. Examples of political thugs are the touts popularly called "AGBORO", used to suppress the voice of the average citizens, and protect the interests of corrupt leaders.

If the executive Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo wishes to eradicate insecurity and promote social and economic development within Anambra State then he must tackle these terrors and not keep a blind eye. If he feigns ignorance of these, and keep unfairly trying to wrongly involve IPOB in the insecurity of Anambra, then he is either not honest about his plans on security, or he is hypocritical.

Written by Anioke Chukwunonso

Edited by Ogah C S Maduabuchi

For Family Writers Press International