… As Group Warns Against Reprisal Attacks on Villagers
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has condemned the killing and burning of armed security forces by armed men in Imo State.
HURIWA in a statement by its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, bloodshed and violence do not result in any progressive development just as he called on the Imo State Governor Mr. Hope Uzodinma to consider the public good of Imo State and reconsider his decision to go for a second term in office giving that his administration has substantially brought untold hardships, killings, maiming and destruction of lives.
The group also noted that it is inconceivable that security operatives sent to the state to maintain law and order are subjected to this gruesome and painful death in the hands of a yet to be ascertained bunch of armed non state actors who have thrown Imo State into a state of war, anarchy, doom and bloodbath.
The Rights group further called on politicians to set their differences aside and work collectively to restore peace, stability and state-wide consensus on how best to bring about total reconciliation and concord in the state hitherto known for its ability to attract tourists from all over the World.
“We are again calling on the relevant security agencies to investigate the scope of operation of the self acclaimed private soldiers commanded by the former Niger Delta militant leader Mr Asari Dokubo who confirmed that he carried out military operations in the South East under the directive of immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari”.
It said its reaction is against the backdrops of the story filtering out of Imo State, that gunmen killed eight security personnel, including soldiers, police officers, and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“The tragedy, which occurred on Tuesday morning in Umualumaku village, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state, has caused concern amongst the locals and Nigerians at large.
“HURIWA is however, warning the Army, DSS, Police not to contemplate carrying out revenge mission which will simply be a targeted genocidal killing of innocent residents.
“The joint security taskforce team who were in two security trucks were ambushed and set ablaze by their attackers and none of them survived as they were burnt inside their operational vehicles.
In a report by the global think tank, Institute for Economics and Peace on the 10th annual edition of the Global Peace Index, the group stated that 163 countries were ranked from the most to least peaceful countries on the planet according to how safe they are.
Syria came tops as the most dangerous country, with a peace score of 3.806 out of 5. The Middle Eastern country is in the fifth year of its civil war, in which more than 250,000 people have died and an estimated 9 million people have been displaced.
Of the 15 countries listed as most dangerous, Africa accounts for seven, while the Middle East has 5 with Asia accounting for one and Russia making up the number.
In Africa, South Sudan is the second-most violent nation, with Somalia, Sudan, Libya coming next.
While the top 15 dangerous countries, which the GPI deems to have a “very low” state of peace, is dominated by Middle Eastern and north African nations, Ukraine was named the 8th least peaceful country, with a score of 3.287.
Of the 81 nations that became more peaceful, Panama, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Mauritania improved the most. Meanwhile, of the 79 countries that became less peaceful, Yemen, Ukraine, Turkey, Libya, and Bahrain deteriorated the most, due to the effect of terrorism and political instability.
According to the group, Nigeria’s score stands at- 2.877; North Korea – 2.944; Russia – 3.079; Democratic Republic of Congo – 3.112; Pakistan – 3.145; Libya – 3.2
Others are: Sudan, with – 3.269; Ukraine – 3.287; Central African Republic – 3.354; Yemen – 3.399; Somalia – 3.414; Afghanistan – 3.538, Iraq – 3.57; South Sudan – 3.593; Syria – 3.806.
End.
