…Calls for global protests, seeks Biden’s intervention

Prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to compel the heads of security services and also adopt diplomatic measures such as extradition of sponsors of unknown gunmen based offshores to end genocidal killings in the South-East zone of Nigeria.

HURIWA's National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, also called on Igbos worldwide to organise global protests to highlight the bloodbath that has been ongoing for about two years in the South-East.

The group also called on United States President Joe Biden and United Kingdom Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and other world leaders to muster their political influence on Buhari to stop killings by state and non-state actors in the South-East. HURIWA said President Joe Biden who will host President Muhammadu Buhari and other Africsn heads of states must mount coordinated pressure on Nigerian President to end the systematic genocide in the South East in which the heads of security agencies controlled by President Muhammadu Buhari ate the enablers.

HURIWA said of late, the Department of State Services controlled by Buhari issued an ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and oil marketers to end petrol scarcity and they did so almost immediately. The group argued Buhari can also give a stern, marching order to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to end the genocide in the South-East if he indeed wants the killings and kidnappings to end.

The group argued that Buhari and 17 Hausa-Muslim heads of security agents have demonstrated an unwillingness to end the bloodbath in the South-East.

According to reports, a self acclaimed apostle of Nnamdi Kanu based abroad declared a five-day sit-at-home across Nigeria’s South-East to be observed from 9 to 14 December. Many persons have since been killed in Enugu, Imo and other three states in the zone by gunmen enforcing the cruel order.

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s standoffish and lackadaisical attitude to end terrorism in the South-East is alarming. For instance, the DSS gave petrol marketers 48 hours to end fuel crisis and it ended. For two years, gunmen of all species escalated attacks in the South-East but Buhari has failed to stop it because it doesn’t affect him.

“Buhari passionately went after Nnamdi Kanu in June 2021 but the same President has failed to use diplomatic measures to get the major foreign based enabler extradited to face prosecution in Nigeria or get arrested by his Country of residence for inciting the public here in Nigeria.

“Also, Buhari refused to obey court's judgment to release Nnamdi Kanu in a deliberate scheme to unleash organised chaos and terrorism in Igboland that was hitherto peaceful before he began unconditional military crackdown on the zone. According to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, security agencies have killed 1,400 residents and razed 1,000 homes in 100 Igbo communities in the 14 months.

“HURIWA calls on Igbos worldwide to organise global protests to highlight this genocide ongoing in the South-East zone for western leaders to pressure Buhari to stop the killing and kidnapping in the South-East.”

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