Stakeholders call for withdrawal of Army ahead River election rerun

Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) on Monday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw military from Ogoni land, ahead of the forthcoming Rivers state rerun election.

The CLO which called for thorough investigation and prosecution of army officers who allegedly invaded some Ogoni communities which results into the killing of 34 people in an attachment which lasted for two days, accused security agencies of partisanship.

The soldiers have tried to provide justifications for the operations. The public relations officer of  2nd Brigade, Port Harcourt, Capt. Lazarus Eli  confirmed to the press that the military operations in Ogoni is in line with the command’s target to get to communities rid of dangerous weapons. He said the military maintained high sense of responsibility and professionalism in its duties, adding that their operations in communities of Ogoni were peaceful.

Chinedu Uchegbu, CLO Zonal chairman, who condemned the military activities in the affected areas, argued that if nothing is done to checkmate and restrain the soldiers, they would continue to raid communities in Ogoni and other parts of the South-South, subjecting community members to traumatic situation and violating peoples right with impunity.

“It is unfortunate that the extra-Judicial killing of over 30 citizens, the arrest; detention and torture without trial of many others as well as the destruction of properties of Nigeria citizens, thereby rendering them homeless and internally displaced do not amount to any breach of functional human right to the military,” he said.

In his response, Francis Odesanya, Commissioner for Police in River State confirmed that two people arrested have been charged to court adding that five corpses were identified at the mortuary contrary to the 34 people allegedly killed by the Army in the crisis.

In its presentation, Peter Medee, who spoke on behalf of Kangote, Ogoni socio-cultural organisation affirmed that there were several cases of violence Crimes of terrorist dimension resulting into killings, raping, kidnapping, maiming and destruction of properties of Ogoni people.

According to him, evidences abound in several communities where activities of these militants, cult groups and hoodlums are common occurrence on daily basis except for the presence of the military, most of the Ogoni land would have gone to extinction.

The group further alleged that the militant group generate money for the procurement of arms and ammunition through over 100 illegal crude oil refineries being operated across Ogoni land.

While speaking, one of the participants who spoke on the demise of Pobi Kayince who was buried alive, argued that Solomon Ndigbara  issued the directive to the four people to kill his brother in the bush.

To this end, the Committee urged the Clerk of the House to take cognisance of the identity of the accused persons for further legislative action.