According to sources, Concerned
Nigerians, a pro-democracy group has
warned Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, against unleashing
anger on pro-Biafra agitators, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as they
mark the May 30 Biafra remembrance day.
The group threatened to drag the IGP
to the International Criminal Court, ICC, over his directive to Police
Commissioners in the South-eastern states to be strict and firm in dealing with
pro-Biafra agitators during their events.
In a statement signed by Deji
Adeyanju and John Danfulani, Convener and Secretary respectively, The group
disclosed this.
The group was responding to a statement
signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood conveying the IGP’s
directive to officers in various police commands in the South-East to deal
decisively with members of IPOB who have planned a series of protests in
celebration of the Biafra Remembrance Day.
The group argued that Biafra
Remembrance Day has huge significance for the Igbo who experienced huge losses
during the Nigerian Civil War, therefore, the Police have no justification to
want to stop the celebration.
The statement continues, “We do not
see any justification whatsoever for the police to prevent the celebration of
Biafra Day. In fact, the attempt by the Police to stop the celebration is a
provocation in itself.
“This directive contravenes the
right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, freedom of association and
freedom of movement as enshrined and guaranteed in the Nigerian const
The group further disclosed that
late last week it contacted the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, on
the violations of IPOB members’ rights, including the killing of over 150 of
them by security agents. The ICC Chief Prosecutor, added the group, promised
that action will be taken.
The group added, “Since a clear
threat has been issued by the Inspector- General of Police vowing to deal
decisively with the IPOB members, we wish to draw the attention of the Nigerian
Police to the fact that protest is a human right and it must be respected.
It also argued that the issues being
raised by the IPOB, Biafran Independence Movement (BIM) and the Movement of the
Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were subjects of
intellectual debate.
“Nations do not kill their citizens
when issues of self-determination or referendums are raised. They engage them
in an intellectual debate where reasoning and superior arguments prevail as in
the case of leave or stay in the UK and Brexit,” the group stated.
It called on IPOB, BIM and MASSOB
members to be law abiding in the exercise of their rights of assembly, movement
and protest on Biafra Remembrance Day.
“Their approach should remain
non-violent resistance even in the face of harassment and intimidation.
“If any Biafran is killed on May
30th, it will be as a result of the directive given to all police commissioners
and formations nationwide and we will drag the Inspector General of Police to
the International Criminal Court,” the group concluded.
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