Group accuses military of human rights abuse in Gbaramatu

The Coalition of Ijaw Youth Leaders (COIL) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to check the alleged
hostile activities of military officials in Gbaramatu kingdom of Delta State.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Coalition, Dr Clarkson Raphael and Secretary, Mr Fred Brisibe, the group accused the military of engaging in wanton human abuse and gross molestation of innocent and law-abiding indigenes of the kingdom under the pretext of looking for Niger Delta Avengers.

The statement read: “COIL decry the wanton human abuse and gross molestation of innocent and law abiding indigenes of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the military under the pretext of looking for Niger Delta Avengers.”

While condemning pipeline vandalism and criminal activities in the Niger Delta, the Coalition said it was opposed to human degradation and ill treatment.

The statement said:”Coalition condemns strongly the acts of pipeline vandalisation and every other criminal activities in Delta. However, we object to a situation where the innocents, artisans and all law-abiding indigenes are beaten up, manhandled, molested and subjected to crass and gross inhuman treatments.”

It continued: “The military is expected to do its job professionally as it obtains in civilise clime and not resorting to inhuman, extrajudicial killings of innocent and law abiding indigenes.”

While urging human rights bodies and influential persons to intervene in the issue, the group said, “The genocide of recent past is still very fresh; we don’t want a repeat.COIL is using this medium to call on men of conscience that have respect for the sanctity of life to call the rampaging military to order. We call on notable international organisations like the United Nations, Amnesty International to wade into the inhuman situation been created by the military and help avoid a catastrophic human crisis that could arise there from.

“We also appeal to civil liberty organizations (CLO), Campaign for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), and Human Right watch to pay attention to the intending pogrom.

“Also we appeal to men like Prof. Pat Utomi, Mr. Tony Uranta, Mr Femi Falana, Mrs. Ankio Briggs and others to call the rampaging military men to order. The untold hardship the military is subjecting the innocent, law abiding indigenes of Gbaramatu kingdom is better imagined.”