Chiwetalu Agu: HURIWA Accuses Military, DSS of Ethnic Profiling

Prominent pro-democracy and Not-for-profit organisation- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has called out the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) for exhibiting overwhelming tendencies of ethnic profiling targeting members of the South East of Nigeria’s  Igbo speaking Ethnicity following the arrest by soldiers and eventual illegal handover to the Department of State Services of the popular Igbo Nollywoods Actor Mr Chinwetalu Agu over his choice of clothes with the flag of the defunct Biafran Republic. 
The Rights group said the military and the DSS have clearly shown their inclinations towards Ethnic profiling because on more than one occasion the Kaduna based Islamic Cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi was seen holding nocturnal meetings with the Fulani terrorists who kidnapped many school children and held them hostage for months in the forests but despite the obvious evidence that the said Ahmad Gumi made many television and newspaper appearances and granted extensive interviews including the one that he accused the military of helping to weaponise terrorists in the North-West,  there was never any attempt on the part of the DSS or Army to invite him or arrest him for these treasonous acts of fraternizing and colluding allegedly with Fulani Terrorists. 
lHURIWA further affirmed that: “Also the Zaria based Islamic Cleric Salihu Zaria threatened to kill Christians over the Jos killing of Fulani travellers by Unknown gunmen but the DSS and the Army looked the other way and never made attempt to arrest these two Moslem preachers who made inciting comments which may have instigated the massacre of some Christian Military officers in a suspicious military helicopter crash whilst flying from Minna after Sheikh Gumi was quoted as claiming that only Christian military operatives are decimating and crushing Islamic terrorists in the North and then the Nigerian Defence Academy was invaded shortly after Sheikh Salihu Zaria made the threat against Christians and the invaders killed a Christian soldier and kidnapped a Plateau born Christian soldier of the rank of Major who was detained for several weeks before being rescued but the Igbo Actor Chiwetalu Agu wore just a clothe with the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic which is not unlawful but the Army tortured him and thereafter handed him over to the DSS and the DSS is now saying that justice would be done and we ask, which justice? This is pure ethnic profiling and vendetta which is unconstitutional.  We demand the immediate release of Mr Chinwetalu Agu by the DSS or they charge him to court so the World will see how low the Country Nigeria has degenerated in the practice of apartheid policies by the current administration that releases and reintegrate boko haram Islamic terrorists”.

Already, HURIWA has protested the dehumanization of Chiwetalu Agu by the Army in a letter of protest submitted to the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk on Friday in which the Rights group stated as follows: “We bring you our message of goodwill.
This is to register our strong protest over the physical torture, maltreatment and denial of RIGHTS TO DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON that was unleashed on the popular Nigerian Actor Sir Chiwetalu Agu by the Nigeria Army troop in Onitsha, Anambra State, South East of Nigeria.
 
We write this petition to particularly disagree with the statement publicly made by the spokesman of the Defence headquarters to the effect that the said Nollywood Actor was dehumanized because he allegedly advertises for the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for putting on a clothe that has the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic.
Sir, the Nigeria Army is an institution created by law and the Army is not above the law. It is unacceptable that the Army General who spoke for the Defence headquarters has given the impression that physical, psychological torture of alleged offender (assuming without conceding that putting on one’s choice of clothes is now an offence) is permissible under the Army’s rules of engagement. 
Sir in 2017, Nigeria passed a law against torture. Nigerian constitution in chapter 4 is against torture.The Army tortured Chiwetalu Agu and these infractions must never be swept under the carpets so the Army is not accused of tolerating impunity.
We pray you to deploy an internal resolution mechanism to provide relief and redress to the victim of Army brutality Chiwetalu Agu.
As a Civil Rights body, we know that the Army is not a body that is created to torture citizens even if they are in conflict with the law. Moreover, what choice of clothe someone wears is not an item of the law. The colours of the defunct Biafra is not illegal just as wearing Arab clothes in Nigeria is not an offence.
We await your rapid action so the impression that some persons are bigger than the law is wiped away.
You would recall that the Kaduna based Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi openly campaigns for those the government classified as bandits and even met them in the forests, but the Army has not called him in for questioning.
Why does the Nigerian Army believe that wearing one’s choice of clothes with certain colouration is against the law but it is not an offence for Gumi to consistently champion the cause of armed bandits?”
The letter of protest was endorsed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.   

Bandits Hold On To 27 Sokoto Residents Despite Receiving Ransom From Monarch

Buzu, second in command to the notorious banditry kingpin, Bello Turji, has reportedly refused to release 27 people he kidnapped in Gatawa area of Sokoto State, despite collecting ransoms for their release.

The gunmen had recently attacked Gatawa town in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where residents said over 20 persons were killed and 27 persons kidnapped.

The bandits also sent one of the victims with a handwritten letter to the district head of Burkusuuma, Sarkin Rafi, asking for N20 million for the release of the victims.

According to Premium Times, the relations of the victims revealed that the bandits asked families and friends to collate the money and pay through the village head of Katsallen Kade.

The source, whose sister is kidnapped, said, “Buzu, taking decisions on Turji’s behalf, said the money should be paid through the village head. But we pleaded and negotiated with the monarch, who is afraid of going against the bandits, from N20million to N2million.”

He said the bandits were eventually given N2.2million but Buzu had refused to release the victims.

Another source from Sabon Birni, who also asked not to be named due to safety concerns, confirmed that the money was taken to the bandits but none of the victims have been released.

“The victims are being held in Suruddubu, which is all under Buzu’s territory. What I heard is that when the N2.2million was given to Buzu, he insisted that the whole N20million must be paid, and in addition to jerry cans of fuel. It is becoming scary because the issue is just like a movie premiere,” the source said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Sanusi Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the issue.

[Saharareporters]

Vigilante Group Kills Imam, 10 Others In Sokoto

Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Yan Sakai, a vigilance group in Sokoto State, have killed 11 persons, including an Imam, at Mamande village in Gwadabawa local government of Sokoto State.

Our reporter gathered that the victims died on the spot while four persons who sustained gunshot injuries were taken to a hospital by the local government council for treatment.

The Imam who was identified as Malam Aliyu was said to be leading prayers in one of the daily prayer Mosques in Salame.

The incident happened at about 3:30pm on Thursday.

The victims were said to have come from different Fulani settlements around the area to purchase food and other items at the weekly Mamande market.

The Yan Sakai were said to have stormed the market from Goronyo Local Government Area, attacking the victims whom they accused of aiding banditry.

A relative of the Imam, Abdullahi Riskuwa, said his brother was killed unjustifiably because he never had any criminal record.

“He is sound in religion knowledge and had been leading prayers in one of our mosques in Salame town.”

“His only sin was that he belonged to the Fulani tribe.”

According to Riskuwa, Imam Aliyu only went to the market to buy goods when he was killed.

Among those killed at the market, he said, were children and the Yan Sakai went away with their animals.

He called on the government to investigate the matter with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

The state chairman of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, could not be reached for comment as his telephone line was not reachable when our correspondent attempted to speak with him.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Gwadabawa local government, Aminu Aya, confirmed the attack, saying the Yan Sakai were not from Gwadabawa.

According to him, the deceased were deposited at the Morgue of Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, and some of their relatives went there to recover their corpses.

He however, said that, normalcy was restored in the area.

When contacted, the Public Relation Officer of Sokoto Police Command, ASP Sanusi Abubakar, said he had not briefed about the development but promised to get the details and call back.

However, he had not done so as at the time of filling this report.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had prohibited the activities of Yan Sakai in the state.

[DAILYTRUST]

Bandits Release Five More Students Of Kaduna Baptist School

Five more students of Bethel Baptist School in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released.

Rev Israel Adelani Akanji, President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, confirmed the release of the students on Friday night.

“Glory be to God. Five of our Bethel Baptist High School students and the Matron (Making 6) have just been released to us this evening, October 8.”

“We thank God and trust that the remaining four students will also be released. Thank you for your prayers and support,” he said in a statement.

The abductors, who went away with a total 121 students from their hostels, had demanded N500,000 as ransom of each of the students.

Ever since then, the bandits have been releasing the victims in batches.

The first batch of 28 were released on July 25, 2021 after their parents reportedly parted with undisclosed ransom.

Two of the students had earlier escaped while the bandits had released one on health ground.

The following day on July 26, three of the students also escaped from their captors.

Daily Trust had reported that the students escaped from the camp where they were kept on 19 July 2021.

An aunt to one of the students, who craved anonymity told Daily Trust then that the three teenagers had spent five days roaming inside the forest before they finally met a herdsman who directed them out of the forest.

It was also gathered that one of the escaped students who could recall his father’s phone number borrowed a phone to call home before his father went to pick them up.

Two other students had escaped from the camps before they were recovered by the police.

On 22 August, 15 more of the students were released by their captors.

On 27 August, 32 more of the students regained freedom.

Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), confirmed the victims’ release.

Hayab, who said the students have been reunited with their parents, did not go into details.

On Saturday 18 September, 10 of the abducted students were freed, after spending 75 days in captivity.

A senior official of the school said that the students were released after an undisclosed amount of money was paid to the bandits, before they were reunited with their parents and taken to the hospital for treatment.

On September 23 the police arrested three kingpins involved in the kidnap of the students.

The suspects, who dressed in military camouflage, were paraded by the Force Public Relations Officers, Frank Mba, at the headquarters of defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in Abuja.

The suspects, Adamu Bello, Isiaku Lawal and Muazu Abubakar, told newsmen that 25 of them abducted the students.

They said they carried out the operation in desperate bid to get money.

[DAILYTRUST]

JUST IN: Villagers Killed, Monarch’s Palace Razed As Angry Soldiers Raid Imo Community

At least three people have been killed while 15 houses, including the palace of the traditional ruler of Aborshi Izombe Community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo, have been razed.

Witnesses blamed soldiers on reprisal for the incident.

The soldiers were said to be angered by the killing of two of their colleagues by youths of Izombe.

A witness said youths protesting the killing of a young man identified as Chukwunoso Iherue, a native of Umuokwu Izombe, Oguta LGA, was suspected to have been killed by soldiers.

In protest, they were said to have killed two soldiers.

Another source in the community told our correspondent that the soldiers and the youths were engaged in supremacy tussle over oil bunkering in the community.

The source said, “I was informed that two military men were killed and their vehicle set ablaze after the military killed one young man in Umuokwu Izombe, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo, this morning.”

“The problem arose from misunderstanding between the boys and soldiers over crude oil bunkering. Lately Izombe, Eziorsu, Osobod communities in Oguta have been notorious for bunkering operation. Civilians ad security men are all involved in the illegal business.

“The soldiers were said to have killed one Chukwunoso Iherue before the youths fought back leading to the military personnel storming the palace of HRH Eze Pius Muforo of Aborshi Izombe Community, where they were attacked.

“Latest information is that soldiers have burnt down the palace of HRH Eze Muforo and two others now in Umuokwu Izombe.

“The soldiers attacked the community in 18 Hilux vans carrying petrol and three war tanks. My cousin living next to our compound told me that her house was burnt down after which the soldiers went and burn down Chief C A Onyeukwu’s buildings.”

Spokesman of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Capt Joseph Akubo, when contacted said he had not got a clear picture of what actually happened.

He promised to get back but had not done so as at the time this report was filed.

[DAILYTRUST]

Suspected Bandits kill five MOPOL officers in Niger

Five mobile policemen have been reportedly killed in an attack by suspected gunmen on Tuesday in Pangu community of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state, 

The gunmen were also accused of burning down the Pangu primary healthcare centre and two vehicles belonging to the mobile policemen.

The gunmen according to sources from the community invaded the town on motorcycles shooting sporadically to scare people away. 

It was gathered that the gunmen began shooting the mobile policemen who tried to stop the attack and that led to the death of the security agents.

The bodies of the deceased have been taken to the IBB Specialist Hospital.

The Niger State Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Sani Idris, while responding to questions from newsmen about the attack did not confirm nor deny the attack.

He said, “There have been attacks here and there” while no specific information was given on the Pangu community attack.

Also, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached to confirm the attack and death of the policemen.

[Punch]

Gunmen Kill Two Policemen, Lawyers, Seven Others In Ebonyi

Unknown gunmen have reportedly shot dead two police officers, two lawyers and seven others in Isu and Onicha-Igboeze communities, in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

It was learnt that the cops were reportedly killed in Isu while others were killed in Onicha Igboeze during an invasion by the gunmen.

It was gathered that two lawyers who were passing with a vehicle, ran into the gunmen during the attack.

The police in Ebonyi State have confirmed the attack, although the details of the incident are still sketchy.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Garba, has dispatched a team of policemen to the area.

[Saharareporters]

Biafra Apparel: HURIWA Carpets Army For Brutalizing Actor Chiwetalu Agu

The alleged brutalization and physical harassment and torture of the popular Nollywoods Actor Mr Chinwetalu Agu over his recent viral photo of him putting on the clothes made from the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic has been described as animalistic, insensitive, irresponsible, irrational, despicable and reprehensible.
Canvassing immediate redress by the military high command, the prominent Civil society and pro-democracy group:- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said it was illegal to harass, a law abiding citizen like Mr. Chinwetalu Agu who has deployed his monumental creative talents as an actor to mobilize the society and to advocate for an ethically sensitive and humane society, must not be allowed to be swept under the carpets of impunity.
“Where is that valid law within the federal Republic of Nigeria under constitutional democracy that denies the citizens their choice of apparel? Why is the flag of the defunct Biafra if turned into a clothe now made offensive and why is the Nigerian Army seeking to polarize the society and deepen the misperception that the military exercise in the South was meant to subject the citizens to ordeals of gross Human Rights Violations when this is not so? We condemn this overzealous tendencies of the military troop that undertook this abysmal and primitive act of humiliating a citizen for putting on his choice clothes when the primary duty of the Army is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria? In which way has Mr. Chinwetalu Agu disrespected any provisions of the law and assuming without conceding that the putting on of apparel displaying the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic is unlawful, are there no human rights and law based procedure for bringing him to justice without metting out such level of brutality despite his age and his immense contributions to the entertainment industry?” 

HURIWA spoke further: “We hereby appealed to the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk to arrest  and sanction the Soldiers captured on the viral video for harassing and torturing the elder statesman or alternatively, we urge the victim of this Human Rights violation to seek redress in the Court of law under section 6 of the Constitution”.
Specifically, section 6 states thus: “(1) The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation. (2)  The judicial powers of a State shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established, subject as provided by this Constitution, for a State. (3)  The courts to which this section relates, established by this Constitution for the Federation and for the States, specified in subsection (5) (a) to (1) of this section, shall be the only superior courts of record in Nigeria; and save as otherwise prescribed by the National Assembly or by the House of Assembly of a State, each court shall have all the powers of a superior court of record. (4)  Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed as precluding:- (a)                        the National Assembly or any House of Assembly from establishing courts, other than those to which this section relates, with subordinate jurisdiction to that of a High Court; (b)                        the National Assembly or any House of Assembly, which does not require it, from abolishing any court which it has power to establish or which it has brought into being.(5)  This section relates to:- (a)  the Supreme Court of Nigeria; (b)  the Court of Appeal; (c)   the Federal High Court; (d)  the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (e)   a High Court of a State(f)   the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;(g)   a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State; (h)  the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (i)    a Customary Court of Appeal of a State;(j)    such other courts as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly may make laws; and (k)  such other court as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction at first instance or on appeal on matters with respect to which a House of Assembly may make laws.(6)  The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section – (a)  shall extend, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law(b)  shall extend, to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person; (c)   shall not except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, extend to any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by any authority or person or as to whether any law or any judicial decision is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of this Constitution; (d)  shall not, as from the date when this section comes into force, extend to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or after 15th January, 1966 for determining any issue or question as to the competence of any authority or person to make any such law.                     
HURIWA condemned the action of those soldiers because it violates section 42(1) which provides thus: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:- a)    be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or b)   be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.(2)                        No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.  Section 36. (1) In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.  Section 35.(1) Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure permitted by law – a)    in execution of the sentence or order of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty; b)   by reason of his failure to comply with the order of a court or in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation imposed upon him by law; c)    for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court or upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed a criminal offence, or to such extent as may be reasonably necessary to prevent his committing a criminal offence; d)    in the case of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years for the purpose of his education or welfare; e)    in the case of persons suffering from infectious or contagious disease, persons of unsound mind, persons addicted to drugs or alcohol or vagrants, for the purpose of their care or treatment or the protection of the community; or f)      for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of any person into Nigeria or of effecting the expulsion, extradition or other lawful removal from Nigeria of any person or the taking of proceedings relating thereto: Provided that a person who is charged with an offence and who has been detained in lawful custody awaiting trial shall not continue to be kept in such detention for a period longer than the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed for the offence. And Section 34. (1) Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly – a)    no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment; b)   no person shall he held in slavery or servitude; and c)    no person shall be required to perform forced of compulsory labour.” 
HURIWA cited news reports  that popular Nollywood actor, Chinwetalu Agu, was reportedly brutalized by Nigerian soldiers for wearing an outfit with colours of the Biafran flag.

It was gathered that the incident occurred in the Upper Iweka area of Anambra state.

According to an eye witness, the Nigerian soldiers had stopped the Nollywood actors, bringing him out of his vehicle for interrogation.

Recall that Chinwetalu Agu had recently rocked the Biafra flag attire in a post on social media.

Bandits Kill Eleven in Latest Katsina Attack

At least eleven persons have been reported killed after deadly armed bandits launched an attack on Yasore community in Batsari local government area of Katsina state, North West Nigeria.

The attack was made known by Activist Yusuf Anka who has been consistently reporting the activities of bandits in the North-West region of Nigeria.

According to a tweet put forward on his twitter handle, Anka reported that the bandits also injured ten villagers during the deadly attack. He further said that houses were destroyed by the bandits.

This attack is coming barely 24 hours after bandits killed 18 people in Kuryan Madaro communit in Kaura local government area of neighboring Zamfara state.

Katsina the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari has been under repeated armed bandits attack with almost a dozen local government area alleged to be under the control of the bandits despite ongoing military operations in the region.

Nigeria’s Police Inspector-General Brings Back Notorious Police Unit, SARS

The Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman has revived a notorious unit of the Nigeria Police Force, which was disbanded last year after #EndSARS protests, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). 

SARS was notorious for brutality, extrajudicial killings, and human rights abuses. 

In a statement obtained by SaharaReporters, the IGP was said to have released new terms and conditions on the operation of SARS officials. 

The Police Force also made phone numbers available for citizens to report harassment.

According to Baba Usman, SARS has been reformed and the new rules of engagement are stated below:

“No SARS personnel is allowed to interface in any civil matter.

“They are not allowed to interfere in cybercrime (yahoo yahoo).

“No SARS personnel is allowed to conduct a stop and search exercise unless there is a distress call from victims or members of the public.

“They are not allowed to be involved in commercial matters, debt recovery, (landlord vs tenant issues).

“They are not allowed to interfere in any social/relationship cases (marital matters, boyfriend/girlfriend relationship).

“They are strictly for armed robbery and kidnapping cases!”

Also, citizens are encouraged to report cases of harassment by any of its officials to the following office: DIG, Department of Operations:

08037025670, IGP X-SQUAD 0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000 – CALLS.

0903 227 8905 – SMS.

0903 562 1377 – WhatsApp

Last October, there were massive protests in some states tagged #EndSARS, largely organised by youths, to call for an end to police brutality. 

They also demanded that SARS, a police unit, notorious for human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, and other atrocities should be disbanded.

But during the protests against police brutality, the Nigeria police unleashed more terror on peaceful protesters in many parts of the country, including at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, the epicentre of the struggle. 

The repressive regime of Muhammadu Buhari was forced to disband SARS. 

It thereafter introduced the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, which many Nigerians described as not different from the disbanded SARS. 

Meanwhile, the police inspector General, Baba Usman once said the disbandment of SARS had created a vacuum in policing the country.

He added that the morale of police officers in the country had been low since the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

[Saharareporters]