Rights group accuses soldiers of killing Abia indigenes

An apex South East youth body, Coalition of Youth Leaders (COSEYL), has accused the army in Abia State of killing innocent indigenes.

In a statement, yesterday, issued by the president of the group, Goodluck Ibem, COSEYL appealed that the command be removed and a university established there.

The statement said: “The attention of COSEYL have been drawn to an evil, brutal and wicked development where the Nigerian army personnel will adopt Ohafia indigenes seen or traveling in a bus, car or moving on the road, and kill them for being indigene, of Ohafia Local Council of Abia State.

“The Nigerian army will stop a car conveying passengers and will ask if there is any Ohafia person in the car. Anybody that identifies him or herself as an Ohafia indigene will be asked to come down from the vehicle and the driver asked to move, leaving behind the fellows, who will disappear forever from the surface of the earth.

“One of the Victims of this evil act is Mr. Uka, a young man from Akanu Ohafia, and another young man from Ndi Uduma Ohafia, who were adopted by the Nigerian army at Ndi Ojiugwo Abam in Arochukwu Council of Abia State. This evil practice has been going on for a long time and it has reduced the population of the innocent Ohafia people.

“Indeed, Ohafia people are now endangered as the army have marked any Ohafia indigene for assassination.

“We are surprised that such a wicked, inhuman and senseless acts will be perpetuated in 21st century.

“We, therefore, demand for the immediate removal of the Nigerian Army barracks in Ohafia and site converted to a Federal University.

“We call on the army to stop adopting and killing Ohafia indigenes traveling or going on their lawful businesses.” (The Guardian: Text, excluding headline)