– Group urges respect for human rights of civilians
By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya on Monday flagged off three Nigerian Army Field Training Exercises in Emene, Enugu state.
The Exercise in the South-East codenamed ‘Exercise Golden Dawn’ is however raising tension as the Operation Show of Force embarked upon by the army and police in the state forced the people off the roads and streets.
Launching the Exercises simultaneously in South South, South East, South West and North Central Nigeria respectively, the COAS said they are to confront the multifaceted and contemporary security challenges prevalent in different parts of the country.
Reports in some parts of the South-East noted that despite the show of force, hoodlums pounced on the sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to cause rampage.
The tension forced chools, markets, banks and eateries to immediately shut down.
Meanwhile, the Southern and Middle Belt Alliance has advised the soldiers to conduct the exercise with restraint and respect the human rights of civilians.
The group in a statement also called on President Muhammadu Buhari and all south-eastern governors to identify and apprehend sponsors of the “unknown gunmen” who are unleashing terror in the region.
In a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Mr. Rwang Pam, the group said that “Scores of lives have been lost and government and private properties worth billions of naira had been destroyed.
“The right to life is fundamental and basic right and it’s so entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) in Sec 33, which clearly states “that every person has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in the execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”
Likewise, Section 14 (2b) states that “the welfare and security of the citizens shall be the primary purpose of government.”
“This government has failed in that duty and continues to fail until it fulfills its responsibility to all Nigerians.
“It is heart breaking that recent happenings in Anambra State and the South-East at large, have breached this right.”
The Army through the Commander 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) Col Abdulkarim Usman, said the exercise would routine training in various South-East geopolitical zone.
According to him ”The military will use the golden opportunity in conjunction with other security agencies to curb the existing security threats in Anambra State.
“The threats range from secessionist agitations, by the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, the Indigenous People of Biafra, and Eastern Security Network.
“Others are banditry, kidnapping, cultist activities, land disputes clashes, communal clashes, chieftaincy issues, assassinations and youths restiveness. To curb these countless security challenges, a robust posture in what the unit has always maintained”
