Biafra killings: Amnesty asks Obiano to ensure justice is served

Amnesty International (AI) has asked Willie Obiano, Anambra state governor, to ensure the perpetrators of the alleged killing of pro-Biafra protesters in 2016 are brought to book.

AI made this known in a statement issued by Isa Sanusi, its media manager.

The group had accused the military of “extrajudicially executing” 150 members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who took to the streets on May 29 and 30, 2016, to mark Biafra remembrance day.

AI says it has not been able to verify the exact number of executions but estimates that at least 60 people were killed and 70 injured in two days.

“Admission of the Remembrance Day killings must be followed up by the establishment of a judicial commission to ensure justice and accountability for those killed on that day, as well as on the at least three other occasions when the military and police extrajudicially executed IPOB supporters,” the statement read.

“Those suspected of responsibility for these killings must face fair and open trials without recourse to the death penalty. Anambra state government now has the opportunity to address impunity.”

The group had in an article, given “detailed evidence of the extrajudicial executions in Anambra state for which Governor Obiano has apologised, as well as three other incidents of unlawful killings in the state”.

“Despite overwhelming evidence that the Nigerian security forces committed serious human rights violations including extrajudicial executions and torture on the day, no prosecutions have been carried out by the authorities,” the statement read.