Rights Group: 1,360 Killed, 51,000 Rendered Homeless in South-east by Military in 20 Months

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A civil rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has alleged that security operatives in Nigeria have killed no fewer than 1,360 persons and rendered 51,000 people homeless in the South-east region in 20 months.

The group stated this in a statement made available to THISDAY in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday by its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi.

The group said about 150 communities in Igbo land have been raided within the period, and about 1,400 homes destroyed.

The statement read: “Soldiers of the Nigerian military and others, including various police crack squads and their allied Ebubeagu government militias, deployed in Igbo parts of the eastern Nigeria between October 2020 and June 2022 have raided 150 communities, burnt or destroyed 1,450 defenseless civilians’ homes.

“They have forced 51,000 out of their ancestral homes, killed 1,360, burnt or destroyed or looted civilian property worth N57billionn and caused N600billion trade and investment losses following the siege and atrocities.”

The group said it launched an international documentary last Sunday during a zoom meeting, and has pictorial and video evidence of most of the killings and destructions.

It said: “The thorough investigation and compilation of verified videos and photos into the burnings and related atrocities had lasted for six months (January to June 2022) following our special report of January 19, 2022.

 “The report had factually accused the soldiers of the Nigerian military of indiscriminate killing of defenseless civilians and burning and destruction of their property, brazenly and hatefully perpetrated outside the law with impunity.

“The Nigerian army on January 20, 2022, issued a rejoinder, denying responsibility and refusing to investigate and fish out the perpetrators responsible and punish them severely to deter repeated perpetration and occurrences.

“The gathered photos and videos used had included those from other news reports and commentaries derived from Nigerian military’s field operations in eastern Nigeria and other parts of the country since 2015.”