COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE IMO CIVIL SOCIETY COMMUNITY HUMAN RIGHTS DESK ON MONDAY 15TH NOVEMBER AFTER AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON THE WORSENING CASES OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND BRUTALIZATION OF INNOCENT CITIZENS BY THE SECURITY AGENCIES IN THE STATE.

Owing to alarming reports on the disturbing increase on cases of brutality against civilians, intimidation and extortion of young people, arson, vandalization and looting of properties and many other unprofessional conducts of security agencies in Imo state, especially on the part of the military and the Police, an emergency meeting of all the civil society groups and pro democracy elements in Imo state was convened. The aim of the meetings is to afford the Civil Society Community the opportunity to formally receive complaints from the victims of these atrocious crimes, verify and ascertain their authenticity and come up with a better legal and democratic reactions to address them.
The meeting was massively attended and some victims who attended the meeting took time to narrate their dehumanizing, heartbreaking and harrowing ordeal in the hands of the Police and Military operatives in the state.
Having listened to the accounts of the victims and responses from members, deliberation on the way forward was done and the following resolutions were arrived at:
1. That the Civil Society in Imo unequivocally condemn in its entirety the unabated intimidation, harassment and extortion of innocent youths and motorists in the state by both the Police and the military men. We are at lost on where the law empowers the personnel of these two security outfits to stop youths on the road search their phones, intimidatingly query them on their source of income and extort them with brazen impunity.
2. That the government of Imo state headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma has failed in his duty as the Chief security officer of the state for not protecting his subjects from the brutality, intimidation and extortion in the hands of the rampaging rogue Soldiers and Policemen despite their loud cries and complaints.
3. That the political leaders in the state, both in the ruling party and the opposition have all failed in raising their voices against the continued injustice meted out to our people by the Police and the Military. We are supprised that these politicians are more interested on how they will grab or retain power than responding to the plights of their kiths and kin who are daily dehumanized by the Police and Military in the state.
4. That we pass a vote of No confidence on the Commissioner of Police in the state and his PPRO and all the heads of Military formations in the state for their failure to compel their men to conduct themselves professionally in carrying out their duties. We consider it the height of shamelessness for a trained Soldier or Policeman to descend so low to brutalize and extort ordinary citizens who are legitimately striving hard to survive.
5. That the Civil Society Human Right Complain Desk is now set up to receive complaints of human right violations so as to assist victims seek redress.
6. That the Civil Society Community shall compile all verified cases of human right violations and extortions after which a strong worded petition will be written to the UN Human Rights department, The British and American Embassies, The European Union, African Union and Ecowas to press for sanctions and visa restrictions on the identified perpetrators of these human right violation crimes and their commanders. We shall also petition Amnesty International, Human Right Watch, relevant Senate and House of Representatives committees, Defense Headquarters, service chiefs, IGP and any other relevant body.
7. That we appeal to Imolites to continue to endure and persevere and not to result to self help no matter the provocation as we shall do everything legally possible to ensure that justice is served in all cases.
8. That we condemn the inactive and lukewarm attitude of the Nigerian Bar Association chapters in the state in the face of massive lawlessness by the Police and the Military. We are shocked that the NBA who ordinarily should be championing the course of liberty and justice in the state cannot be seen or felt in any of these cases.
9. That we seek the collaboration of the media, FIDA, NUJ and other professional bodies in the course of our struggle for justice.
10. That a short frame of time will be observed before our next meeting, to enable us receive more complaints.
11. That we call on religious leaders, Traditional rulers and Town union presidents to rise up to the occasion of speaking out against the unprofessional conducts of the Police and the Military in the State.
Signed:
Aku Obidinma (Convener)
Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Iwu (Secretary)
Chinonso Uba (Spokesman)