The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), a pro-democracy and rights group, has expressed concern over the outbreak of violent unrest and civil disturbances in Ohafia Local Government Council of Abia State between community members and the military formation stationed in the local government.

In a statement jointly signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and Head of legal team, Barr Olusegun Bamgbose, on Monday June 14, FENRAD lamented the level of unrest, army invasion in the local government which it said has put the community members and indigenes in fear.

While berating the state government for its silence on the incessant unrest, the group urged the governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to, as a matter of urgency, take immediate action by addressing the issue.

The statement reads in part: “We are worried over the silence of the state governor, also the Chief Security Officer and custodian of the state. We urge the governor to, as a matter of urgency; take immediate action by addressing this issue before it escalates to unmitigated disaster. The continued silence on the part of the state government under the leadership of Ikpeazu, to a large extent, is inopportune and far from ideal at a time like this.

“We are also no less worried, as a right group that the press release by the military said no single soldier was killed in Ohafia and they are undertaking routine exercise in the furtherance of their operational mandate in line with respect to human rights

“Today, being one set aside to commemorate our democracy, it behooves state actors - both the security agencies and state government – to, in the spirit of all those who died in our democratic struggle (especially that of June 12, 1993), respect to human rights and follow rules of engagement. It is the primary duty and mandate of the government to protect lives and properties of citizens and aliens as enshrined in the express provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended) just as it is also the obligation of the state government anywhere to ensure that citizens' rights, here being rights to life and property, are guaranteed.”

FENRAD equally warned the Abia state government against continual militarisation and subsequent billeting of Ohafia Local Government Area that has culminated in breaches, adding that if not well managed will fuel the flame of insecurity which in recent times has created disaster in the entire Southeast.

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