By TINA TIMOTHY

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Nigerian Army to stop intimidating outspoken Nigerians but instead allow them to express themselves, especially in matters of national security.

Reacting to the Army’s invitation of the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu Uche, who has been invited for interrogation over deep revelations he made regarding his abductors, HURIWA, in a statement on June 2, 2022 and signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said that it was “shameful that the Army cannot go after the kidnappers identified as Fulani but the Army can go after the noble cleric for saying it as it is.”

According to the civil rights advocacy group, the ordeals of the Prelate would subsequently result in the herding millions of Christians to the office of the Nigerian Army when the said interrogation would take place.

The statement partly reads: “Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, on Thursday, warned the Nigerian Army to be wary as millions of Christians will besiege its office in solidarity with the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu Uche, who has been invited for interrogation over deep revelations he made regarding his abductors….

“Kanu-Uche, who was abducted by hoodlums in Abia State, said N100m was paid by the church to secure his freedom, adding that the kidnappers showed him decomposing bodies of some past victims.

“Kanu-Uche was abducted on Sunday, along Leru-Ihube road, off the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

“He was taken together with his chaplain, Very Rev. Abidemi Shittu, and the Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark.

“He noted that the eight-man gang was made up of “Fulani boys,” who claimed to be against the government.

“The cleric said only one of the hoodlums understood English, while others spoke Fulfulde.

“The Prelate said he observed that military men were around the place where the hoodlums operated, while their cows were also around the vicinity.

“The Army in its response, said it “would take this weighty allegation seriously and approach the Prelate and the Methodist church to unravel the basis for the allegation.”

Reacting, HURIWA said: “The development is unfortunate and condemnable. The Army is chasing shadows and Christians in Nigeria will not keep quiet.

“HURIWA calls on all Christians to join the Prelate to attend the Army's interrogation and reject these oppressive tendencies. This is persecution. Army can't stop terrorists because most Army officers are Fulanis and most terrorists are Fulanis. So, it is not a strange occurrence that they conspire against Igbos to cause instability.

“We support the Prelate and we are urging Millions of Christians to turn up and join the Prelate on the day of the appointment. The Prelate should transparently tell us about the date.

“The revelation of the Prelate is not new. In February 2021, Julius Abuda, the younger brother of Chief Dennis Abuda, an American-based Nigerian businessman who was killed by kidnappers at Ahor, Benin, Edo State, said he dropped ransom for his brother’s kidnappers near a Police Station.

“Also, a former Assistant Director with the Department of State Services, Mr. Dennis Amachree, in February 2021, said the compound where Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi, met bandits in Niger State to discuss the release of the abducted students and teachers of Government Science College, Kangara, was very close to a military post.

“An important question to ask is: why the abduction of Christian clerics? Has any Nigerian heard of the kidnapping of any Muslim cleric? In May, Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Uboh of St. Pius X Parish Ikot Abasi in the Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, was kidnapped.

“Rev. Fr. Uboh’s abduction occurred barely three weeks after the Founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle John Okoriko, was abducted by gunmen in his church premises at Ibekwe Akpan Nya in the same Mkpat Enin LGA.

“In March, Reverend Father Joseph Bako of the St John Catholic Church, Kudenda in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State was kidnapped and he died in the kidnappers’ den.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria said non-state actors now target clerics engaged in their pastoral duty across the country, adding that no fewer than 10 clerics have been kidnapped in 2022 alone. While ransom were paid to secure the release of some, others didn’t make it out alive.

“The development is saddening and it must stop. The Army must not be intimidating outspoken Nigerians. Enough!”

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