…comes under attack for silence over killings by hoodlums
By 365Daily
Amnesty International Nigeria has raised the alarm over alleged invasion of homes and killings of Nigerians in Oyigbo, Rivers State, purportedly by men of the Nigerian Army.
It added in a tweet posted on Sunday, November 1, 2020 on its verified Twitter handle that it has also received reports of bodies littering the streets of Oyigbo and called on the military authorities to exercise restraint and stop the killings.
“Amnesty International is receiving disturbing information from #Oyigbo, Rivers state.
Despite the existing curfew, soldiers are allegedly invading homes. Some residents reported seeing dead bodies on the street, allegedly shot by soldiers.
#Oyigbo #Rivers. We are calling on the military authorities to exercise restraint and stop the killings. #Oyigbo #Rivers,’’ the organisation stated.
Oyigbo, a town in Rivers State, has been troubled by killings in recent days, with the state governor, Nyesom Wike, declaring a 24-hour curfew in the area.
The curfew was occasioned by the alleged killing of three policemen by alleged members of the pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), under the cover of #EndSARS protests in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Joseph Mukan, had informed the press last week in Port Harcourt that IPOB invaded Oyigbo local government area on October 21 and launched “senseless and mindless attacks on the area command, Oyigbo and Afam police stations, and burnt down the three stations.”
The group was also alleged to have murdered five military personnel in Oyigbo, though the circumstances leading to the death of the officers remain unclear.
In what seems like a retaliatory attack, the community is said to have been invaded by military men who have reportedly been moving from house to house to pick targeted people, with some of them reported to have been shot dead and their bodies dumped on the streets.
This development struck fear into residents of the area and other Nigerians who have taken to social media to express fear and trepidation.
“The killing in Oyigbo is real, in the name of tracking IPOB members, the uniformed have killed many people. All exits out of Oyigbo is blocked, as people have been brutalized on a daily basis. Up to 70 percent of Oyigbo have fled their home presently,” a Twitter user, @dspken posted.
In another tweet, he added, “Oyigbo in Rivers State has been under 24 hours curfew for nine days now. Soldiers have been going from house to house harassing and killing people. Our families are cut off from accessing medicine, food water and other life-saving necessities.”
Another one, @pee_resplandor, added, ‘’I am currently here in Oyigbo. We are on 24 hours curfew. No light, no water, no place to get fuel. No bank is open. Yet the military is patrolling and will shoot on sight anybody that is caught outside. They destroyed my neighbour’s property just this morning.”
However, Amnesty International has come under heavy criticism for reportedly not raising its voice when IPOB was allegedly carrying out killings against innocent Nigerians and security agents in the state.
@khalifa_nn, while commenting via his twitter handle, said, “So you didn’t receive any report when IPOB members were killing innocent people in Oyigbo? Pure hypocrisy.’’
Speaking in same vein, @Sadiq_002 tweeted, “You’re hypocrite in your activism. People were killed unjustly, instead of you to openly condemn the act being perpetrated by IPOB members, you are now barking….”’