NEWS
Group Unveils Two Special International Reports on Rights, Abuses in eastern Nigeria
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
A Nigeria Human rights group, International Society for Civil liberties and rule of law (Intersociety), have unveiled two special international reports on rights, abuses and violation in the eastern Nigeria, accusing the Nigeria Military and other security forces like police crack squad, DSS, sub State actor killer vigilantes and killer government task forces.
The two special international reports titled “Nigeria: “Ocean of innocent blood flowing in the east” and “Human rights made in Nigeria” were unveiled during a media conference organized by Intersociety in Enugu.
The board Chairman (Intersociety) Emeka Umeagbalasi, unveiling the books said that the two special international reports are built on documented reports, dating back to 2015 or before then, noting that compilation and computation started since middle of May 2024 (past seven months), using in depth research and investigation skills and techniques.
Umeagbalasi explained that the book ” Ocean of innocent blood flowing in the east” which has 282 pages is a catalogue of how officers and personnel of the armed forces ( army, air force and navy) the police, DSS, joined by the paramilitaries and killer vigilantes used ” IPOB/ESN/BIAFRA terrorism as a pretext to secretly massacre 22,500 unarmed civilians and openly killed 9,800 others (totalling over 32,300) in the past nine years and four months (August 2015- Dec 2024) of military siege and terror in the east.
“Tens of thousands were unlawfully detained and tortured, over 6000 blindfolded or face -bagged and bundled at late night from the east and dumped uninvestigated and untried in secret military locations and prisons in seven northern states of Nigeria, Kogi, Nassarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara and FCT (Abuja) inclusive of thousands dumped to die or subjected to kangaroo trials inside WAWA cantonment in Nigeria State”.
He further explained that the book “Human rights made in Nigeria ” is a compilation of relevant, available local, regional and international human rights, humanitarian aid universal human rights, rule of law compliant legal provisions and safeguards regulating the lawful and unlawful conducts and activities of armed citizens in Nigeria or any part thereof, including armed state actors and armed non State actors and their commanders, leaders, aiders and abettors. He noted that the two special international reports are given out free of charge.
Intersociety in their two special international reports therefore gave 76 recommendations to the government of Nigeria, armed forces and police high command which among them were: Carrying out comprehensive investigations into cases of extra judicial killings and unlawful execution in eastern Nigeria in the past nine years and four months including cases involving torture and other cruel treatment, disappearance of dead bodies of victims of torture.
Abolish and prohibit as a matter of uttermost immediacy all military, police and paramilitary roadblock and custody (barracks) extortions and their racketeering (daily returns) in the South East and South South. Also prohibits all forms of commercialization and monetization of arrest, detention, custodial bail and criminal investigation and prosecution.
Dismantle all military and police roadblocks or checkpoints on all south east and South South roads and have them replaced with CCTV cameras manned by ICT trained police detectives and trackers/monitors and others.
The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) has assured the National Pension Commission (PenCom) that its members will comply with the recent directive to settle all pension benefits within three working days.
The Report says that the National Pension Commission has mandated Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Fund Custodians to approve and pay pension benefits to eligible applicants within three working days of receiving complete applications. Mr Oguche Agudah, Chief Executive Officer, PenOp, speaking with newsmen in Lagos, said that the directive was positive and capable of fostering accountability. Agudah said that PenOp members were fully aligned with PenCom’s efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the pension system in Nigeria.He said, “This is a good development for pensioners, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and the entire system.“PFAs are going to comply with this new directive, which is set to begin in June. We will ensure servicelevels are maintained, and we will also ensure people get their money as and when due.“We recognise the importance of timely payment of pension benefits to retirees, and we are committed to working with PenCom to achieve this goal.” (NAN)
The Benue State Government is partnering with the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN) on pricing of agricultural commodities in the state.
Mr Donald Akule, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Agricultural Development Company (ADC), who made the disclosure on Monday in Makurdi, said that the partnership would enhance food security. Akule restated the state government’s willingness to work with FACAN to mediate between the farmers and the government on the prices of commodities. The MD said that the aim was to ensure that all farmers get value for their produce and also ensure food availability. “We have declared a state of emergency on food insecurity. We want to make sure that every farmer gets value for what they produce. “In the coming days we are going to roll out a template of how this produce can be bought or mopped by the ADC and to make sure that we fill up our silos and food banks,” he said. Akule advised farmers to form cooperatives or groups for easy transactions, adding that the government would not work with individual farmers. “Agriculture business is a collective business; it is a collaborative business. We are going to liaise with FACAN to make sure that we regulate the prices of grains. “We will not recognise any person that is working in isolation. Any farmer that is not part of an organised working group would not be accepted,” he said. FACAN State Coordinator, Mr Vitalis Tarnongu, said Benue farmers were ready to partner with government in the regulation of prices enable them get value for their produce. Tarnongu said that their mandate was to ensure that the prices of commodities are set in such a way that both farmers and government make gains. The new state coordinator assured government of FACAN’s commitment with ADC to boost agricultural production.“We are ready to work closely with ADC to ensure food sufficiency.“We solicit your support and cooperation for the association to succeed in its assignment,” he added.(NAN)
A Shari’a Court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State on Monday ordered one Bilya Isah to pay the sum of N140,000 as feeding allowance for his child.
The Judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad made the ruling after one Rabi Musa, an ex wife to the defendant prayed the court to grant her custody of her one year and seven months old son. The Judge granted her custody and ordered Isah to pay N140, 000 as feeding allowance for the seven months he failed to provide and to continue paying N10, 000 monthly. Earlier the complainant said through her counsel, A. Badamasi that her ex husband had neglected their child for seven months and prayed the court to order him to pay N1 million as compensation for the months he missed.She also prayed the court to order the defendant to pay N30, 000 monthly feeding allowances.Meanwhile the defendant on his part said he can only afford N3, 000 monthly allowance.(NAN)
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