IGP Usman Baba under fire, accused of preparing ground for genocide in South-East, South-South

The Coalition of 44 Eastern Nigerian Human Rights, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Intellectuals has slammed the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, dubbing him a “genocide enabler”.

The coalition in a statement issued on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, also noted that the recent public utterances of Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, were also “clear and additional indication” that the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government “has designated the Southeast and South-south Regions as ‘hatefully and religiously a must crush’.”IGP Usman Baba under fire, accused of preparing ground for genocide in South-East, South-South

The coalition in a statement signed by the 44 groups condemned the order by Acting IGP Baba directing policemen to shoot-at-sight suspected youths describing it as intending genocide in the areas.

The coalition while expressing shock at the order, alleged of moves by the Acting IGP Baba and the authorities of the Nigerian Army and other branches of the Armed Forces to turn the Southeast and South-south Regions into society of beasts and barbarians.

The coalition said such move will be resisted.

‘The Coalition is therefore sensing and fearing that Eastern Nigeria is remotely designated by the Government of Nigeria and its security forces and justice agency as “a major threat to widely suspected state jihad project” and therefore must be crushed under the cover of “anti ESN/IPOB operations”.

“Till today, Nigerian Government has failed to credibly prove that “IPOB/ESN” carried out the recent attacks in the two regions with fresh facts emerging and discrediting the Government’s claims. The Government of Imo State, for instance, has stated that “70% of over 400 citizens arrested over recent mayhem in the State are not Igbo or citizens of the two regions”; meaning that the attackers are likely linked to the Government or jihadists imported into the two regions.

“We also have reason to circumstantially believe that the Nigerian Government sees “ESN” as a major threat to its clandestine and policy support for jihadist activities of the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in the two regions including forceful occupation of farmlands, bushes and forests and mass killings, abduction, rape and killing of Christian women or their forceful marriage and conversion to Islam.

“The Coalition is not surprised at the recent uncultured, frightening and genocidal comments and incitement by the Acting IGP Usman at the flag off of the so called “Operation Restore Peace” held in Enugu (on 18th May 2021) and Port Harcourt (on 19th May 2021). Going by unprintable things said by the Acting IGP including open threat and authorization of genocide against Christians of Eastern Nigeria, the Coalition wishes to conclude that such morally disreputable and savagely comments are literally jihad and ethnic cleansing enabler and therefore must not be taken for granted.

“The Coalition hereby designates the Acting Inspector General of Police as “Genocide Enabler”. He has also been blacklisted in the non charlatanistic Human Rights Community and soonest we shall take further steps to forward his name to relevant international human rights, diplomatic and intergovernmental quarters for their records and needful actions.

“We strongly condemn a situation whereby it looks as if it is only the lives and safety of security personnel that matter in the country especially in Eastern Nigeria with little or no Government attention or priority given to killing, maiming and abduction of unarmed and defenseless citizens.

“We are also strongly opposed to grossly lopsided citizens’ security and protection arrangements by the present Government of Nigeria; arrangements widely perceived to favor Muslims of the North and the Southwest especially the Muslim Fulani population and hostile to Christians of the South and the North,” the coalition.

The group while accusing the Buhari administration of marginalization in security and appointments, however reminded the Eastern Governors of their primary responsibility of securing lives and properties in their various States including accountability to the residents of their states over the conduct and actions of the drafted security forces.

It noted that the Coalition, its international partners and the international community will hold them accountable alongside the ‘Genocide Enabler’ Acting Inspector General of Police and all police and military commanders posted to the two region and those in charge of their High Commands.

The coalition further said they must account for all human rights abuses including crimes against humanity or ‘war crimes’ and other internationally prohibited acts perpetrated by Nigerian government security forces under their watch.

It challenged community/town union, churches, activists, media across the East to take up the humanist responsibility of monitoring, documenting and reporting rights abuses, atrocious conducts of the Nigerian security forces particularly soldiers of the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and state backed jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in their areas.

It asked victims to provide basic information needed such as full name, gender, age, marital status, occupation, village, community, local government and state of origin; time of the rights violation and location of same and those or names of security personnel/agencies that perpetrated the rights abuses or violations. Verified videos and photos can also be included.

“Such rights abuse information can be sent on behalf of this Coalition to: info@intersociety-ng.org or to the following WhatsApp links: +2348174090052 or +2348035372962.” it stated.