Amnesty International, the global human rights group, has claimed the Nigerian military shot dead unarmed civilians before a march to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Biafran declaration of independence.
Police have said at least 10 people were killed — five in the town of Onitsha, Anambra state, and five in Asaba, in neighbouring Delta state — in violence linked to the commemoration on May 30.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, which has revived calls for an independent homeland for the Igbo people in southeast Nigeria, claimed at least 35 were killed.
Amnesty said it was unclear exactly how many people lost their lives, as soldiers – who the army says acted in self-defence – took away the dead and injured.
But it stated that based on visits to hospitals and mortuaries at least 17 were killed and nearly 50 injured in Onitsha alone.
“The real number is likely to be higher,” it added in a statement, saying some of the dead and injured seen by researchers had been shot in the back, indicating they were fleeing at the time.
“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,” said Amnesty’s Nigeria director, MK Ibrahim.
One person was shot dead as they slept, he added.
IPOB has staged regular demonstrations across the southeast since the arrest in October last year of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been charged with “treasonable felony” and is awaiting trial.
Source: sundiatapost.com
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The Nigerian government should be held accountable for the killing of unarmed protesters. A democratic government must protect the rights of its citizens from harm in a peaceful demonstration and/or assembly without the use of excessive force resulting in the death or bodily injuries to its citizens. This is a crime against humanity and totally unacceptable in any civilized society. The right to peaceful protest is sacrament to a democratic process and form of government in which the Nigerian constitution and government must uphold. Restructuring Nigeria is a credible solution to Nigerian continued existence with peace, unity and love. Six Geo political Regional Autonomy Structural Implementation will be a good start. A disguised unitary system currently in existence must be eliminated or retired. Long live Nigeria…adopt and support true federalism.