The Senate has condemned alleged the killing of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) protesters by security agents in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, January 20, 2017.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki who spoke on the issue, following a motion by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, said it was wrong for security agents, who are trained to protect the people, turn around to harm them.

Saraki called on the chamber’s relevant committees, especially Police and Security committees to note the points raised by Ohuabunwa.

Saraki, however, refused to sanction the committee’s probe of the alleged killings, contrary to Senator Ohuabunwa’s request.

Ohuabunwa, had, in his motion, decried what he described as repeated killing of IPOB protesters in the South East.

He warned that, if unprovoked attacks were not contained, it could lead to breakdown of law and order in the region.

“Some protesters were killed in Onitsha, Anambra State and, in Abia State, recently, by security forces. What was their crime? These protesters were unarmed and not dangerous. Why do they always kill them?

“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of association.

“People have the right to protest and they do not deserve to be killed. We need to emphasise this fact,” Ohuabunwa noted.

On Monday, the South East Senate Caucus had condemned the killings and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the frequent occurrence.

South East Senator in their condemnation, specifically demanded thorough investigation by the Federal Government, into the allegations of deliberate application of excessive force by security agencies in the containment of peaceful assembly particularly when groups from the South East are involved, with particular reference to last Friday’s incidence.

Chairman of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the mere fact that “the security agencies applied force, in an otherwise peaceful rally is reprehensible and questions an emerging pattern in the containment of peaceful assembly in Nigeria.”

Abaribe said the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides for the freedom of association and the right of the people to freely assemble to express their common interest.

“The last time I checked, that section of the Constitution was intact and has not been amended.

“It is, therefore, worrisome that the rights of a section of Nigerians would be so wilfully denied with such extra force.

“If the report of killings by security agencies were to be confirmed, it would no doubt leave a gaping hole in the unity of this country.

“This is one regrettable action too many, coming against the backdrop of the recent report of the Amnesty International (AI) of mass killings of people from the same section of the populace in Nigeria,” Abaribe said.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, also denounced the killing of the defenceless IPOB members, as well as the charging of survivors to court for treason by security agents in Port Harcourt. A statement signed by its President General, Chief John Nwodo, asked: “Does anyone truly expect Ndigbo to fold our hands and watch our children being massacred and incarcerated with such impunity?”

Ohanaeze also stated that the Federal Government had adopted discriminatory methods in treating issues affecting Boko Haram members, Niger Delta Avengers, Fulani herdsmen and OPC, describing the action as unfair. The statement entitled, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls for judicial inquiry into Port Harcourt IPOB killings”, reads: “Last Friday, members of IPOB staged a demonstration in Port Harcourt in solidarity with President Donald Trump on his swearing in as president of the United States of America.

“That demonstration resulted in a clash between IPOB members on one hand and a combined security team of Nigerian Army and Police (on the other).

“IPOB alleges that the security agents killed 11 of its members, injured 27 and arrested 57 others. IPOB has threatened to take up arms if what it described as the continued killing of its unarmed and defenceless members continues.

“Police have since arrested and charged 54 members of IPOB and MASSOB to two magistrate’s courts for conspiracy to commit treasonable felony and conducting themselves in a manner likely to force or compel the President to change his measures by displaying flags and other items of the Biafra Republic.

“The Army Public Relations Department has similarly issued statements indicating that they were prepared to go to any length to ensure that the IPOB was contained.

“Four issues are arising: Was the IPOB demonstration an unlawful assembly? Did IPOB require a police permit to demonstrate? Was IPOB violent in any manner that threatened public peace and order? And does possession of Biafran flags and coat of arms per se constitute conspiracy to commit treasonable felony?

“Whereas some of these issues are subjudice, it is important in the public interest to note as follows: The correct position of the law in Nigeria is that any curtailment of the right of the citizens to freely associate and assemble for lawful purpose is unconstitutional. It is unnecessary for police permit to be first obtained, prior to any assembly, subject, of course, to section 70 of the Criminal Code (See IGP Versus ANPP (2008) WRN 65; Anambra V AG Federation (2005) NWLR (PT 572) 616 per UWAIS JSC.)

“Any attempt to deal with demonstrations of IPOB in a manner different from treatment of Boko Haram members, Niger Delta Avengers, Fulani herdsmen and OPC will be discriminatory and unfair.

“Given the serious national security implications of this development, Ohanaeze would like the Federal Government to appoint an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of IPOB and MASSOB members in Port Harcourt.

“We have just witnessed wanton massacres of Nigerians in Benue and Southern Kaduna without a single arrest or prosecution. Last year, several farmers were killed in Nimbo by herdsmen without any of those arrested prosecuted. After a judicial inquiry and findings on massacre of followers of Zakzaky in Kaduna State, no arrest or prosecution has been made.

“Where is consistency in the enforcement of the law? A dangerous trend is emerging in our country. There are gathering storms of conflict. A stitch in time saves nine. Government must do the needful and set up an inquiry before overzealous law enforcement agents plunge the country into chaos.”

•Pieced together from Daily Sun and Vanguard reports.

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