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| Photo Credit – onyipeters.com |
An on-the-ground investigation by
Amnesty International has confirmed that the Nigerian army gunned down unarmed
people ahead of last month’s planned pro-Biafran commemoration events in
Onitsha, Anambra state.
Amnesty International has confirmed that the Nigerian army gunned down unarmed
people ahead of last month’s planned pro-Biafran commemoration events in
Onitsha, Anambra state.
Evidence gathered from eyewitnesses,
morgues and hospitals confirms that between 29-30 May 2016, the Nigerian
military opened fire on members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB),
supporters and bystanders at three locations in the town.
morgues and hospitals confirms that between 29-30 May 2016, the Nigerian
military opened fire on members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB),
supporters and bystanders at three locations in the town.
“Opening fire on peaceful IPOB
supporters and bystanders who clearly posed no threat to anyone is an
outrageous use of unnecessary and excessive force and resulted in multiple
deaths and injuries. In one incident one person was shot dead after the
authorities burst in on them while they slept,” said M.K. Ibrahim, Country
Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
supporters and bystanders who clearly posed no threat to anyone is an
outrageous use of unnecessary and excessive force and resulted in multiple
deaths and injuries. In one incident one person was shot dead after the
authorities burst in on them while they slept,” said M.K. Ibrahim, Country
Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
Opening
fire on peaceful IPOB supporters and bystanders who clearly posed no threat to
anyone is an outrageous use of unnecessary and excessive force and resulted in
multiple deaths and injuries.
fire on peaceful IPOB supporters and bystanders who clearly posed no threat to
anyone is an outrageous use of unnecessary and excessive force and resulted in
multiple deaths and injuries.
M.K.
Ibrahim, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria
Ibrahim, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria
“These shootings, some of which may
amount to extrajudicial executions, must be urgently and independently
investigated and anyone suspected of criminal responsibility must be brought to
justice.”
amount to extrajudicial executions, must be urgently and independently
investigated and anyone suspected of criminal responsibility must be brought to
justice.”
The exact number of deaths is unknown,
partly due to the fact that the Nigerian army took away corpses and the
injured.
partly due to the fact that the Nigerian army took away corpses and the
injured.
In
one incident one person was shot dead after the authorities burst in on them
while they slept.
one incident one person was shot dead after the authorities burst in on them
while they slept.
– MK
Ibrahim
Ibrahim
Amnesty International has received
reports from various sources on the ground alleging that at least 40 people
were killed and more than 50 injured.
reports from various sources on the ground alleging that at least 40 people
were killed and more than 50 injured.
After visits to hospitals and morgues,
the organization has confirmed – based on this initial investigation – that at
least 17 people were killed and nearly 50 injured. The real number is likely to
be higher.
the organization has confirmed – based on this initial investigation – that at
least 17 people were killed and nearly 50 injured. The real number is likely to
be higher.
Some of the dead and injured IPOB
supporters seen by an Amnesty International researcher were shot in the back, an
indication that they were fleeing the scene when they were shot.
supporters seen by an Amnesty International researcher were shot in the back, an
indication that they were fleeing the scene when they were shot.
The leadership of IPOB claim more than
50 of their members were killed. The Nigerian army has said in a statement that
they acted in self-defence, and five IPOB members were killed. However, Amnesty
International has seen no evidence that the killings were necessary to protect
life. Although the police also claim that IPOB supporters killed two policemen
the next day in neighbouring Asaba, Delta state, Amnesty International cannot
confirm this claim. However, such killings would not substantiate the army’s
argument they acted in self-defence.
50 of their members were killed. The Nigerian army has said in a statement that
they acted in self-defence, and five IPOB members were killed. However, Amnesty
International has seen no evidence that the killings were necessary to protect
life. Although the police also claim that IPOB supporters killed two policemen
the next day in neighbouring Asaba, Delta state, Amnesty International cannot
confirm this claim. However, such killings would not substantiate the army’s
argument they acted in self-defence.
A joint security operation was carried
out by the Nigerian army, police and navy between the night of 29 May and
throughout 30May, apparently intended to prevent a march by IPOB members from
the Nkpor motor park to a nearby field for a rally. Before the march began the
military raided homes and a church where IPOB members were sleeping.
out by the Nigerian army, police and navy between the night of 29 May and
throughout 30May, apparently intended to prevent a march by IPOB members from
the Nkpor motor park to a nearby field for a rally. Before the march began the
military raided homes and a church where IPOB members were sleeping.
IPOB supporters told Amnesty
International that hundreds of people who had come from neighbouring states,
were asleep in the St Edmunds Catholic church when soldiers stormed the
compound on 29 May.
International that hundreds of people who had come from neighbouring states,
were asleep in the St Edmunds Catholic church when soldiers stormed the
compound on 29 May.
I
saw one boy trying to answer a question. He immediately raised his hands, but
the soldiers opened fire…He lay down, lifeless. I saw this myself
saw one boy trying to answer a question. He immediately raised his hands, but
the soldiers opened fire…He lay down, lifeless. I saw this myself
Witness
to the shootings.
to the shootings.
A 32-year-old hair dresser who was in
the church told Amnesty International: “At about midnight we heard someone
banging the door. We refused to open the door but they forced the door open and
started throwing teargas. They also started shooting inside the compound.
People were running to escape. I saw one guy shot in the stomach. He fell down
but the teargas could not allow people to help him. I did not know what
happened to the guy as I escaped and ran away.”
the church told Amnesty International: “At about midnight we heard someone
banging the door. We refused to open the door but they forced the door open and
started throwing teargas. They also started shooting inside the compound.
People were running to escape. I saw one guy shot in the stomach. He fell down
but the teargas could not allow people to help him. I did not know what
happened to the guy as I escaped and ran away.”
Another witness told Amnesty
International that on the morning of 30 Mayhe saw soldiers open fire on a group
of around 20 men and boys aged between 15 and 45 at the Nkpor Motor Park on the
morning of 30 May. He says that five of them were killed.“I stood about two
poles [approximately 100 metres] away from where the men were being shot and
killed. I couldn’t quite hear what they were asking the boys, but I saw one boy
trying to answer a question. He immediately raised his hands, but the soldiers
opened fire…He lay down, lifeless. I saw this myself.”
International that on the morning of 30 Mayhe saw soldiers open fire on a group
of around 20 men and boys aged between 15 and 45 at the Nkpor Motor Park on the
morning of 30 May. He says that five of them were killed.“I stood about two
poles [approximately 100 metres] away from where the men were being shot and
killed. I couldn’t quite hear what they were asking the boys, but I saw one boy
trying to answer a question. He immediately raised his hands, but the soldiers
opened fire…He lay down, lifeless. I saw this myself.”
The witness described how military
officers loaded men with gunshot wounds into one van, and what appeared to be
corpses into another.
officers loaded men with gunshot wounds into one van, and what appeared to be
corpses into another.
Later that morning, another witness
described how police shot a child bystander as a group of young men protested
the shootings, blocking a road and burning tyres along the Eke-Nkpor junction.
described how police shot a child bystander as a group of young men protested
the shootings, blocking a road and burning tyres along the Eke-Nkpor junction.
He told Amnesty International: “I heard
a police siren and everybody started running helter-skelter. I ran away with
other people, but before we left, the police fired tear gas at us and shot a
boy in my presence. He was just hawking in the street. He wasn’t even there to
protest,” he said.
a police siren and everybody started running helter-skelter. I ran away with
other people, but before we left, the police fired tear gas at us and shot a
boy in my presence. He was just hawking in the street. He wasn’t even there to
protest,” he said.
An Amnesty International researcher
visited three hospitals in Onitsha and surrounding towns and saw 41 men being
treated for gunshot wounds in the stomach, shoulder, leg, back and ankle. The
researcher also visited mortuaries in Onitsha and saw five corpses with bullet
wounds, all brought in by IPOB members on 30 May.
visited three hospitals in Onitsha and surrounding towns and saw 41 men being
treated for gunshot wounds in the stomach, shoulder, leg, back and ankle. The
researcher also visited mortuaries in Onitsha and saw five corpses with bullet
wounds, all brought in by IPOB members on 30 May.
Amnesty International has been informed
that many of those killed or injured are still held by the military and police.
Several witnesses said that the military loaded corpses in their vehicles and
took them to Onitsha military barracks. Amnesty International was not able to
confirm this.
that many of those killed or injured are still held by the military and police.
Several witnesses said that the military loaded corpses in their vehicles and
took them to Onitsha military barracks. Amnesty International was not able to
confirm this.
One witness told Amnesty International
that around 30 people were held in the military barracks, while another witness
said 23 people who were held in State Criminal Investigation Department were
brought to court.
that around 30 people were held in the military barracks, while another witness
said 23 people who were held in State Criminal Investigation Department were
brought to court.
Following the shootings, the military
told media sources that the soldiers only opened fire after being shot at
first, but Amnesty International’s research has found no evidence to support
this. All the people the organization interviewed said that the protesters were
not armed; one young man said that he threw stones at the police and military
after they shot teargas at the IPOB members. He said the military then fired
live ammunition in return.
told media sources that the soldiers only opened fire after being shot at
first, but Amnesty International’s research has found no evidence to support
this. All the people the organization interviewed said that the protesters were
not armed; one young man said that he threw stones at the police and military
after they shot teargas at the IPOB members. He said the military then fired
live ammunition in return.
This
is not the first time that IPOB supporters have died at the hands of the
military. It is becoming a worrying pattern and this incident and others must
be immediately investigated.
is not the first time that IPOB supporters have died at the hands of the
military. It is becoming a worrying pattern and this incident and others must
be immediately investigated.
MK
Ibrahim
Ibrahim
Information gathered by Amnesty
International indicates that the deaths of supporters and members of IPOB was
the consequence of excessive, and unnecessary use of force.
International indicates that the deaths of supporters and members of IPOB was
the consequence of excessive, and unnecessary use of force.
International law requires the
government to promptly investigate unlawful killings with a view to bringing
the perpetrators to justice. Amnesty International is also calling for those
IPOB supporters still held in detention without charge to be either
immediately charged or released.
government to promptly investigate unlawful killings with a view to bringing
the perpetrators to justice. Amnesty International is also calling for those
IPOB supporters still held in detention without charge to be either
immediately charged or released.
“This is not the first time that IPOB
supporters have died at the hands of the military. It is becoming a worrying
pattern and this incident and others must be immediately investigated,” said M.
K. Ibrahim.
supporters have died at the hands of the military. It is becoming a worrying
pattern and this incident and others must be immediately investigated,” said M.
K. Ibrahim.
“In addition there must be an end to
the pattern of increased militarization of crowd control operations as soldiers
are frequently deployed to undertake routine policing functions.”
the pattern of increased militarization of crowd control operations as soldiers
are frequently deployed to undertake routine policing functions.”
Background
Amnesty International interviewed 32
witnesses between 1-3 June in Onitsha and an additional five people on the
phone.
witnesses between 1-3 June in Onitsha and an additional five people on the
phone.
The IPOB members had informed the
Anambra State Police Commissioner of their plans for Biafra Remembrance day and
requested for security to be provided for the procession.
Anambra State Police Commissioner of their plans for Biafra Remembrance day and
requested for security to be provided for the procession.
Amnesty International has been conducting
research into violence and killings of IPOB members and supporters in south
east Nigeria since January 2016. A comprehensive report will be published in
the near future.
research into violence and killings of IPOB members and supporters in south
east Nigeria since January 2016. A comprehensive report will be published in
the near future.
The organization’s research shows that
since August 2015, there have been at least five similar incidents in Onitsha
alone where the police and military shot unarmed IPOB members and supporters.
Amnesty International has documented cases of alleged unlawful killings by the
Nigerian army between August 2015 and May 2016.
since August 2015, there have been at least five similar incidents in Onitsha
alone where the police and military shot unarmed IPOB members and supporters.
Amnesty International has documented cases of alleged unlawful killings by the
Nigerian army between August 2015 and May 2016.
In August 2015, military officers
opened fire on peaceful supporters of IPOB calling for an independent Biafran
state. The killings and mass arrests of members and supporters of IPOB by a
joint military and police operations continued in October, November and December
2015.
opened fire on peaceful supporters of IPOB calling for an independent Biafran
state. The killings and mass arrests of members and supporters of IPOB by a
joint military and police operations continued in October, November and December
2015.
On 17 December 2015 for example, the
military killed five people when they opened fire on members of the IPOB who
were demonstrating in Onitsha in a celebration of a court order for the release
of their purported leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
military killed five people when they opened fire on members of the IPOB who
were demonstrating in Onitsha in a celebration of a court order for the release
of their purported leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In February 2016, the Nigerian military
used excessive force to disperse a peaceful gathering in a school compound in
Aba. At least nine people were killed and many more injured.
used excessive force to disperse a peaceful gathering in a school compound in
Aba. At least nine people were killed and many more injured.
The Nigerian government has not
conducted any independent investigation into any of these incidents.
conducted any independent investigation into any of these incidents.
The right to peaceful assembly and
association, as well as the right of freedom of expression, is protected by the
Nigerian constitution. International human rights standards also require that
law enforcement officials must, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means. The
intentional lethal use of firearms is only permissible when strictly
unavoidable in order to protect life.
association, as well as the right of freedom of expression, is protected by the
Nigerian constitution. International human rights standards also require that
law enforcement officials must, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means. The
intentional lethal use of firearms is only permissible when strictly
unavoidable in order to protect life.
Ed’s Note- This post was copied from the Amnesty Website here