January 6, 2016 – A coalition of human rights group has petitioned the National Assembly seeking probe into reported killings and violence that characterised December 5 election that was held in Bayelsa.
At least five people were reportedly killed by militants during the polls with several people injured. But the tights group comprising, Civil Liberty Organisation(CLO), Committee for the Defence of Rights(CDRH), PPI, KNORIHGT, CDRD, IJOTEWA, said they put their weight behind a free, fair and transparent election.
The petition was signed by Daudy Eze,(PPI) Kenny Bakare (CLO), Segun Adeeko (KNORIGHTS), John Thompson (IJOTEWA), Innocent Agbo (HRDAC), Popoola Amos, (CDRH) and Emmanuel Asuoha(CDRD).
“We represent a coalition of civil rights and indigenous human rights groups on whose behalf and instructions we write you. We would like to begin by reiterating our firm commitment to actualizing the dream of a united Nigeria: a nation that is free of tyranny, senseless abuse of power and maniacal killings in the name of politics for selfish gains. It is why we cast the full weight of our support behind a free, fair and transparent gubernatorial election Bayelsa state.
“We are totally dismayed by the gross human and electoral rights violations and mindless killings which heralded the inconclusive gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state with total disregard to the Constitutional freedom of Association and fundamental Right to Life of Nigerian citizens and gross violation of the Electoral Act 2010 sections 129 (4) and 131 respectively”, the group said.
In the letter, addressed to Speaker of the house, the group alleged that preliminary findings on the massive Human Right Violations and Abuse point to some Ex-militants in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State known as Messers. Paul Eris (Alias “General Ogunboss”) and Mr. Oparasia (Alias “General Africa”) with the connivance of Major Sani of 5 Battalion, Nigerian Army and Major Musa also of Same Battalion posted to Amassoma and Oporoma respectively during the Bayelsa Governorship election held on the 5th and 6th of December, 2015 as major actors in the dastardly act and open show of criminal impunity to the admiration of their paymasters.
The group noted that during the dastardly attacks a lot of people were attacked, five persons killed and several others injured who are still receiving treatment in various hospitals.
“ Members of the State Police Command equally aided and abetted the ex-militants by releasing several of them who were arrested with arms and dangerous weapons without charging them to the court of law. Based on the foregoing and in order to avoid a repeat of these grave Human Right Violations, abuse and a disruption of the re-scheduled election, we wish to demand as follows:
“The immediate investigation, arrest and prosecution of Mr. Paul Eris and Mr. Oparasia and their cohorts by the IG for murder and arson. The immediate trials of Major Sani and Major Musa and other officers involved in the dastard act. A reduction of the Military presence and role in the areas scheduled for re-election. Instead, we recommend that the Police and Civil Defence takes the leading role during the exercise. Cause and direct immediate investigation of gross Human Right Violations and abuses by the police, military and ex-militants.
“That the federal Govt immediately set up a Panel of Inquiry to probe the senseless killing of Bayelsa citizens during the election. That a competent Panel of Enquiry be also used to investigate the circumstances that led to the senseless killing of citizens during the election. That the INEC should ignore the demand for the removal of the REC as this will amount to open compromise by the INEC”, the group said.
It also called on INEC to immediately commence the process of prosecution of all electoral offenders and guarantee the safety of electorates in all elections in Nigeria with particular reference to the Bayelsa Election.
“We believe it is of utmost importance that an investigation be set up to ascertain how and why unknown gunmen were able to hijack an INEC ballot box despite the prevalent presence of law enforcement officers. We call on you to use your good offices to urgently intervene and give attention to this demand to ensure that the peace Bayelsa state have relatively enjoyed in the past few years is not truncated. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately wade into this matter and ensure that all does involved are brought to justice’’, the group said.
