Arrest of Eze Igbo: Rights Group Accuses DSS, Police of Bias against Igbos

*Condemns use of NBC to suppress free press, opposition

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA), has faulted the arrest of the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate in Lagos State, Mr. Fredrick Nwajagu, by the Department of State Service (DSS).

The HURIWA, at a media interaction on Sunday, also slammed the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force for their deliberate actions of not arresting some of the foot soldiers of the President-Elect, Senator Bola Tinubu, over alleged vile and abominable statements before, during and after the 2023 general elections, thereby triggering tribal attacks against Igbos residing in Lagos State.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the National Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, described as shocking and a display of double standards “that while Musiliu Akinsanya aka “MC Oluomo,” Mr. Bayo Onanuga and Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode are allowed to continue spewing ethnically inciting and verbally putrid statements against Igbos in Lagos, the DSS is quick to arrest Eze Igbo who defended his people.”

The group said that the whole world watched in horrific shock as Igbos were massively attacked and assaulted at polling units across Lagos State on February 25 and on March 18 during the general elections because of their overwhelming support for the Presidential and Governorship Candidates of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour respectively.

“Igbo-dominated areas like Amuwo Odofin, Alaba in Ojo Local Government Area amongst others were seriously attacked, which hampered the result of the Labour Party’s candidates”, Onwubiko said.

He added that since the verbal war had been declared on Igbos in Lagos by MC Oluomo, Onanuga and FFK, Igbo traders have suffered loss of goods worth billions of Naira when their businesses in places like the Olowu spare parts market where shops filled with air-conditioners, vehicles spare parts among others were burnt by suspected arsonists.

The group also recalled that a similar fire incident occurred three weeks after at Akere Spare Parts Market on Kirikiri Road, Olodi-Apapa in Ajegunle, describing it as a crystal clear case of arson as the security guard was shot dead in the market.

Onwubiko said: “It is alarming that the DSS, Police and Army have been very biased against Igbo people of Nigeria since Bola Ahmed Tinubu was controversially returned as president-elect by a grossly ethically challenged INEC.

“The arrest of the Eze Igbo in Lagos and the failure to arrest MC Oluomo and Bayo Onanuga, FFK who made clear threats against Igbos are incontrovertible evidence of a prejudicial security system.

“Also, the excessive partisanship of the National Broadcasting Commission in favour of Tinubu and its extreme anti-media freedom dictatorship is so undemocratic and condemnable.”

They, however, encouraged media houses not to give up the struggle to maintain plurality of view in their broadcasting and encourage them to go to court and challenge the “unconstitutional conducts of the politically-tainted NBC,” adding that “HURIWA will be writing a very powerful letter to the International Criminal Court in The Hague demanding visa ban on enemies of free press and democracy.”