Lawyer petitions Tinubu, NSA over human rights abuses in Ebonyi community
•Urges US, UK, Canada, EU to impose visa ban on Nwifuru A human rights advocate, Maduabuchi Idam, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged gross human rights violations in
•Urges US, UK, Canada, EU to impose visa ban on Nwifuru
A human rights advocate, Maduabuchi Idam, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged gross human rights violations in Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by soldiers and other security agents.
He accused Governor Francis Nwifuru of ordering actions amounting to collective punishment against the people of Amasiri.
The petition was also sent to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, International Criminal Court (ICC), the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and Amnesty International Nigeria.
In the petition, the lawyer alleged military invasions, destruction of property, school closures, and denial of examination access to children in the affected communities.
According him, Governor Nwifuru directed the military invasion following a conflict that stemmed from a long-running boundary dispute between Amasiri and neighbouring Oso-Edda in Edda Local Government Area of the state.
"These disputes have led to repeated retaliatory attacks, with each community regrettably suffering the loss of lives and destruction of property on multiple occasions," part of the petition read.
He alleged that despite repeated petitions by Amasiri leaders to authorities, seeking protection and mediation, the Nwifuru-led government failed to intervene until a recent incident in which four persons from Oso-Edda were reportedly killed.
He said Amasiri community condemned the killings and denied involvement. "The community (Oso-Edda) may have been attacked by its other enemies, other than Amasiri , which states that it currently has no imminent rift with them, having recently signed an agreement to maintain peace."
He accused Nwifuru of acting “swiftly and punitively” without investigation by removing his appointees from Amasiri, suspending its traditional rulers, shutting schools, and preventing students from registering for national examinations.
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The lawyer further alleged that the military personnel deployed in the community carried out extrajudicial killings, razed homes, destroyed ancestral places and looted valuable cultural artifacts.
The activist noted that criminal liability should be individual and not collective; arguing that punishing an entire community for alleged acts of a few suspects violates both Nigerian law and international conventions.
Idam, therefore, called for immediate reopening of schools, withdrawal of the military personnel, and an independent investigation to identify those responsible for the killings.
He also urged foreign governments, including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada to impose visa restrictions on the Ebonyi governor over the alleged rights abuses.
Besides, the activist requested the ICC to investigate the matter under Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute relating to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
He emphasised that while he condemned the killing of innocent persons in Oso-Edda, justice must be pursued through lawful investigation and prosecution rather than “collective reprisals” against civilians, including women and children.
