International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, said the inaction of South East governors is responsible for the incessant attacks in the region.
The organisation made the claim in an eight-page report released yesterday, signed by its Head, Emeka Umeagbalasi, alongside the Head of Democracy and Good Governance, Chinwe Umeche, Head of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Obianuju Igboeli, and Engineer Ekene Umeagu of Religious Freedom and Human Rights.
The groups singled out Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu governors for such laxity, while Abia is under watch.
According to Intersociety, thousands of people in the zone had paid the supreme price in the hands of rampaging herdsmen.
The organisation accused the governors of “silence of the graveyard or conspiracy of silence and inaction” in regard to the increasing secret and unchecked herdsmen attacks in various communities over the years.
“The totality of the above has endangered lives and properties, and threatened defenseless people’s fundamental human rights to ethnic and religious identities, including rights to be born, develop and live in a secured and protected environment.
“It must also be pointed out that the jihadist activities of Fulani herdsmen and allied others in Igbo land is either rarely reported or covered and suppressed or censored under their watch.
“Several reports also abound exposing indiscriminate third-party land purchases for the Jihadists across the South East by delegated persons or state/federal government remotely linked middle persons, including top government officials or appointees or others close to their governments.
“The indictment of the four governors is inclusive of past and serving ‘Homeland Security Commissioners’ and ‘Special Advisers on Security’ or those in charge of ‘Community Security, Vigilante and Border Conflict Resolution Matters, appointed since assumption of office,” the group alleged, vowing to pursue visa ban for the government officials.
Meanwhile, Intersociety claimed that over 40 detained traditional worshippers in Anambra State have no case to answer.
It said government had lost the legal and moral grounds “to continue to detain without investigation, the 40 traditional worshippers held in an illegal detention facility (State Militias’ Lion House at Awka) for more than 60 days”.
Intersociety urged the government of the United States of America to ensure that Nigeria is returned to the list of “Countries-of-Particular-Concern” for the egregious abuse and violation of ‘International Religious Freedom.’
