Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) has condemned recurring attacks on political opponents and non-members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ebonyi State.

HURIWA, in a statement read at a media briefing by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to change the Police Commissioner in the state, Aliyu Garba for alleged complicity and for reportedly working in cahoots with the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; and the ruling APC in the state to terrorise opposition parties.

The group described the situation as anti-democratic tendencies in open display in Ebonyi and vowed to petition foreign missions, particularly the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia on the heightened levels of threats to the lives of political opposition politicians in Ebobyi State.

HURIWA vowed to call for visa restriction against Governor Umahi, if, within seven working days, there is no significant improvement in respect to the fundamental human rights of all politicians irrespective of affiliations.

The group also condemned the use of state-owned security outfit, Ebubeagu, to intimidate political opponents of Governor Umahi of the APC. Umahi, whose eight-year tenure as governor ends on May 31, is a senatorial candidate of the APC for the district.

HURIWA said it is on record that Governor Umahi, out of intolerance for political opponents in the state, directed the police and other security agencies to withdraw orderlies and security details from candidates of political parties, directors-general and party officials other than the APC.

“HURIWA will not hesitate to write to the USA, UK and Australia on the heightened levels of threats to the lives of political opposition politicians in Ebonyi State and call for visa restriction for the governor if within seven working days there is no significant improvement in respect to the fundamental human rights of all politicians irrespective of affiliations,” part of the statement reads.