By George Mgbeleke <\/p>\n
Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expresses grave alarm and unequivocal condemnation over the escalating wave of politically motivated violence, intimidation, and unlawful suppression of opposition activities in Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas of Imo State.<\/p>\n
What is unfolding in Imo State is not merely a political disagreement\u2014it is a dangerous descent into lawlessness, where democratic freedoms are being systematically eroded through force, fear, and impunity.Demans<\/p>\n
HURIWA calls on the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to immediately rise to the constitutional responsibilities of his office by guaranteeing the safety, rights, and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. The Governor must not preside over a system where dissent is treated as a crime and opposition voices are violently silenced.<\/p>\n
We are deeply troubled by credible and consistent reports indicating that supporters of a rising political formation in Ideato North\u2014associated with Honourable Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a sitting member of the House of Representatives\u2014have been subjected to repeated violent attacks, harassment, and intimidation allegedly perpetrated by armed individuals operating under the guise of vigilantes.<\/p>\n
Particularly disturbing are reports of attempts to sabotage lawful political gatherings, including the alleged deployment of armed thugs to seize venues, disrupt events, and even destroy property belonging to citizens engaged in constitutionally protected political activities. Such actions are not only provocative but amount to a direct assault on Nigeria\u2019s democratic framework.<\/p>\n
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended) is clear and binding. It guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and participation in governance. These rights are not privileges granted at the discretion of any government\u2014they are fundamental, inalienable, and enforceable.<\/p>\n
Let it be stated without ambiguity:<\/p>\n
SOVEREIGNTY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA, FROM WHOM GOVERNMENT DERIVES ALL ITS POWERS AND LEGITIMACY.<\/p>\n
Consequently, any attempt by any authority\u2014state or non-state actors\u2014to suppress, intimidate, or violently obstruct citizens from exercising these rights is null, void, unconstitutional, and illegal.<\/p>\n
HURIWA warns that the Imo State Government cannot abdicate responsibility or feign ignorance. Under both constitutional and moral obligations, the Governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state and bears ultimate responsibility for any breakdown of law and order within his jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
Should these acts of violence persist, the Government of Imo State will be held accountable\u2014both nationally and internationally\u2014for enabling an environment where democratic rights are trampled upon with impunity.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, HURIWA draws urgent attention to the deeply disturbing revelations by Amnesty International regarding the operations of the so-called \u201cTiger Base,\u201d the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Owerri. The report paints a horrifying picture of entrenched human rights abuses, including:<\/p>\n
Prolonged arbitrary detention without trial
\nSystematic torture and inhumane treatment
\nExtortion and exploitation of detainees
\nEnforced disappearances
\nSeparation of children from their mothers without documentation
\nDetention in overcrowded, unsanitary, and life-threatening conditions<\/p>\n
These practices are a direct violation of Nigeria\u2019s Constitution, the Anti-Torture Act of 2017, and binding international human rights obligations. They represent not only institutional failure but a stain on the conscience of the nation.<\/p>\n
HURIWA demands an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation into these allegations, with a view to prosecuting all culpable officers and dismantling any structure that enables such atrocities.<\/p>\n
In light of the rising tension and the clear threat to public peace, HURIWA urgently calls on:<\/p>\n
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP)
\nThe Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS)
\nThe Honourable Minister of Defence<\/p>\n
to act swiftly and decisively to safeguard lives, protect property, and ensure that the constitutional rights of all Nigerians\u2014especially those in Imo State\u2014are upheld without compromise.<\/p>\n
Nigeria must not be allowed to slide into a state where political competition is replaced with coercion, and where the rule of law is subordinated to the rule of might.<\/p>\n
Democracy is not sustained by intimidation, violence, or repression. It thrives on tolerance, inclusivity, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.<\/p>\n
We therefore demand:<\/p>\n
An immediate cessation of all violent attacks and intimidation against opposition members
\nThe withdrawal of all armed thugs and unlawful vigilante groups from political spaces
\nThe protection of all lawful political gatherings and assemblies
\nThe prosecution of individuals involved in acts of violence and arson
\nA full-scale investigation into human rights abuses at \u201cTiger Base\u201d<\/p>\n
The people of Imo State\u2014and indeed all Nigerians\u2014must not be denied their democratic rights by any individual or authority.<\/p>\n
History will not be kind to those who choose repression over justice, or violence over democracy.<\/p>\n
Enough is Enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By George Mgbeleke Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expresses grave alarm and unequivocal condemnation over the escalating wave of politically motivated violence, intimidation, and unlawful suppression of opposition activities in Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas of Imo State. What is unfolding in Imo State is not merely a political disagreement\u2014it is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[1385,3369],"class_list":["post-13130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-law-crime","tag-intimidation","tag-sustained"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13131,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13130\/revisions\/13131"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyechoes.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}