Intersociety Says Over 65,000 Citizens Killed In 15 Years Of Democracy, Writes President Jonathan On Unlawful Killings

                                

INTERSOC/NG/002/05/14/FGN/ABJ

His Excellency

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

Federal Republic of Nigeria

The State House, Three-Arms-Zone

Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

Sir,

Boko Haram Terror & Other Unlawful Killings: A Demand For Presidential Invitation Of The Chief  Prosecutor For International Criminal Court For Investigation & Prosecution Of Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes & Related Others-Part One

(Rule of Law & Security, Onitsha-Nigeria, 29^th of May, 2014)-The leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law-Intersociety writes Your Excellency concerning the above subject. This letter of ours is coming four months, two weeks and two days after our first letter of the year was addressed to Your Excellency. Your Excellency will recall that the first letter under reference was dated 13^th day of January, 2014 (averting chaos & bloodletting imminent in 2015 general polls).

  Today, being 29^th day of May, 2014 marks 15 years of return to civilian rule in Nigeria with over 65,000 citizens estimated to have been unlawfully killed within the periods under reference-May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2014.

Issues Warranting This Important Letter: As Your Excellency is aware, the state of security in Nigeria is under a serious threat. For us at Intersociety, the country operates a woefully failed security system. It is a clear case of a country using typewriting security measures to counter ICT security challenges. The Boko Haram terror and other unlawful killings have caused the country an irreparable damage. As we write, there is steady movement of people from northern parts of the country to southern parts. These mass movements are caused by insecurity and other unsafe conditions caused by Boko Haram terror and other ethno-religious violence.

Between June 2009 and May 2014, a period of five years, up to 8,000 innocent Nigerians or more have been killed by Boko Haram terror. In the first three months of 2014-January to March, according to Amnesty International account, over 1,500 Nigerians have been killed in Boko Haram associated killings in Northeast Nigeria with the violent sect responsible for over half of those killed and the Nigerian security forces responsible for the remainder. Between April and May 2014, according to Wikipedia and Intersociety accounts, at least, 681 Nigerians have been killed by Boko Haram violent sect.

The recorded April and May 2014 Boko Haram killings are:  10^th April, 60 killed in Kala Balge, same day, 8 killed in Dikwa, 14^th April, 71 killed in Nyanya Park bombing, Abuja, 1^st May, 19 killed in second Nyanya Park bombing, 5^th May, over 300 killed at Gamboru Ngala in Borno, 18^th May, 4 killed in Kano, 20^th May, 118 killed in Jos, 21^st May, 25 killed in Chikongudo (source: Wikipedia May 2014). Others are: 26^th May, 20 killed in Kamuyya Village in Biu LGA, Borno State; 26^th May, 21 killed in Waga Village in Madagali LGA, Adamawa State; 27^th May, 14 soldiers, 11 policemen and 10 civilians killed in Buni Yadi in Gujba LGA, Yobe State and Chinene Village in Gwoza LGA, Borno State. The Boko Haram terror sect had in recent months gone by, massacred between 55 and 59 boy-students of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Gujba LGA of Yobe State, who were asleep in their dormitories (sources: Intersociety, News Express & Vanguard May 2014).

On April 14, 2014, up to 276 girl-children domiciling at the Government Secondary School in Chibok town, which is also a LGA in Borno State were abducted by Boko Haram violent sect and reportedly taken refuge at Sambisa Forest; an expansive forest measuring 60,000 square kilometers or 23, 000 miles. Out of 180 names of the abducted Chibok girls publicly disclosed, 165 are Christians and 15 Muslims. The Boko Haram killings are targeted at three categories of Nigerians: Igbo-Nigerians, which constitute about 40% of the casualties; other Christian-Nigerians especially members of northern minority Christians, which constitute another 40%; and non-Christian-Nigerians and non-northern Christians, which take the remaining 20%.

There are three major types of malicious killing of human persons carried out by armed opposition groups and individuals in the country: ethno-religious killings such as Jos killings carried out by violent religious zealots; inter-communal killings such as Fulani-Jukun/Tiv killings carried out mostly by militant and armed Fulani herdsmen; and Boko Haram killings carried out by Boko Haram violent sect. It is on indisputable record Your Excellency that over 1000 people have lost their lives between January and May 2014 in the hands of violent Fulani herds militias. As recently as 26th of May 2014, 16 people were killed in Chenkai Village in Wukari LGA of Adamawa State when Fulani herds’ militias attacked Tiv/Jukun farmers.

 In the case of Boko Haram violent attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians, Your Excellency, it actually dates back to 2004 in Borno State, where its earliest bloody confrontations with the Nigerian security forces were recorded over the group’s members’ refusal to wear crash helmets in Borno State. As Your Excellency is aware, the violent sect led by late Mohammed Yusuf and Fuji Foi, was formed in 2002 as a ragtag violent armed Islamic group, which claimed to oppose western education and culture.

 In reality, the violent group not only uses “western culture” to prosecute its bloody attacks on innocent Nigerians and the State of Nigeria but also its key members received western education. It is on record Your Excellency that some of its earliest recruits were graduates of physicist and chemistry from a number of northern universities. Its two former leaders are western education university graduates. A discovery of packs of used and unused “western condoms” was made some time ago in one of its deserted camps in the northeast Nigeria. The violent sect has also received and still receives trainings from al-Qaeda Islamic network in Islamic Maghreb and al-Qaeda network in Arab Peninsula. Its associate in black Africa is Al-Shabab; a Somalia- based cell of the militant Islamist al-Qaeda group.

 The Boko Haram violent sect also makes extensive use of modern war technologies including improvised explosive devices and other sophisticated illicit small arms, high-tech internet accessibility and mobile phone technology. It makes effective use of counter intelligence, advanced asymmetric war tactics and mental technology. Its members’ in-service and inter-service trainings are believed to be conducted in Sudan and Somalia using two most volatile transnational highways in the country: Trans Saharan or Lagos-Algiers Highway and Trans Saherian Highway in Kano as well as other volatile and porous border routes. A large number of illicit small arms in its hands reportedly come from Libya used in the country’s internal insurrection or uprising; en route Niger and Chad.

 The Boko Haram violent sect operates amorphously with undisclosed hierarchy and its key leaders, most likely, move in bi-sex animated masks and disguise from time to time to evade easy detection. They operate “online” and “offline” and possibly have a team of malicious ICT experts providing them easy and undetected access to World Wide Web and ensure their access thereto is not easily detected. To post picture and video clips to internet Your Excellency, there must be high internet access and certainly this will not be “Sambisa Forest” areas. High internet cities like Abuja are most likely an option. It is possible Your Excellency that key Boko Haram kingpins share Abuja residency with Your Excellency. The late Osama Bin Laden was thought to be hiding in mountains, hills and caves in Afghanistan whereas he was for long enjoying city life in Pakistani cities. This is a clear case in point Your Excellency.

From the World Igbo Congress account (WIC May 2014), the following butcheries targeted and substantially executed at innocent Igbo-Nigerians were carried out between 2001 and September 2013. “At the beginning of 2001, the Islamic Sharia law was implemented in Kaduna State and a particular incident in 2002 saw at least 1,000 Southerners killed in a particular riot and most of those killed were Igbos. Among those murdered were parents of Victor Moses (Austin and Josephine Moses), current member of Nigeria’s national soccer team that won the continental trophy in 2013.  Between February 16 and December 26, 2002, thousands of Igbo were killed in northern Nigeria and the root cause of the killing and riot was the implementation of Sharia law in the northern States of Nigeria. Among those killed were three Igbo Christian pastors including George Orji who was killed by beheading.

 In November 2002, hundreds of Igbo were massacred again following controversy around the hosting of Miss World beauty contest in Nigeria .The APO-SIX killings occurred in June, 2005 in which the Nigeria Police Force extra-judicially killed six young Igbos (Ekene Isaac Mgbe, Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony and Augustina Arebu) in Apo-Abuja. Till this day none of the police officers accused of this shockingly evil crime has been brought to justice.  On 18th of February 2006 in Maiduguri and in almost all the northern States of Nigeria, the Muslims protesting over the publication of the cartoon of Prophet Muhammad by a Danish newspaper killed more than 100 Igbos. The Muslims attacked Christians and burned churches in the deadliest confrontation yet in the whirlwind of Muslim anger over the drawings.

 From March 2006 to July 2007, hundreds of Southerners were killed in almost all the northern States of Nigeria especially in Jos. The crisis was between Muslims and Christians. On October 8, 2007, another religious violence again broke out in Northern Nigeria in a row over the publication of the cartoon of Prophet Muhammad by a Danish newspaper and over 100 of people were massacred, majority of them Igbos. Between March 11, 2010 and September 1, 2011 over 500 Christians were massacred outside Plateau State capital, Jos. This time the killings took place in a mainly Christian village of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

On 24th April 2011, more than 1,000 were killed in post-election violence in Nigeria and among those killed were Obinna Okpokiri, who returned from London to serve his fatherland and was posted to Bauchi State, and Eucharia Remmy a graduate from the University of Nigeria in 2010, serving in Damaturu, Yobe State. Muslim youths launched protests in northern towns and cities after President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from old Biafra, was declared the winner of the 16 April election, defeating northern Muslim Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler.

 On June 16, 2011, a Boko Haram suicide bomber drove a car bomb onto the premises of the Louis Edet House in Abuja, the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force with a possible intention to kill Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim whose convoy he followed into the compound. He was however limited by the concentration of security personnel within the entrance. The bomber and one Igbo traffic policeman were killed, though authorities said up to six people may have been killed. On 26 August 2011, the Islamist group, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for an attack on the United Nations building in Abuja which left over 40 people dead most of them Igbo.

 On September 25, 2011, five Igbo traders were shot dead at Madala Market, outskirts of Abuja on Thursday Night between 7-8pm. According to the report, the gunmen stormed the Madalla market and made straight to a shop believed to be that of some Igbo traders and ordered them to recite the Holy Quran which they could not do. The gunmen who were not satisfied with the development opened fire on the five people at close range leaving them dead immediately. The five casualties were later identified as John Kalu, Oliver Ezemah, Uche Nguweze, Sunday Emmanuel. The fifth casualty is yet to be identified.

 On December 25, 2011 Boko Haram claimed responsibility for Christmas Day Bomb attacks at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Madalla - near the capital Abuja - which left more than 50 Igbos dead. Mr. Dike and his children were roasted alive. On January 5, 2012 more than 43 Igbos and other southerners were killed in Adamawa State north-eastern Nigeria. The first victims, 16 in all, were murdered on Friday night during a service at the Christ Apostolic Church, Yola, the State capital. Twenty-seven others described as mourners had been killed earlier on that day at Mubi by gunmen while they were meeting at the residence of another Igbo man who had been shot dead by Bokko Haram Islamist terrorist group a day earlier to plan for his burial.

 On January 11, 2012 Boko Haram terrorists shot dead four Igbo men who were believed to be fleeing violence-torn Maiduguri, residents said." Their car had just pulled up at a filling station outside the town to refuel when suspected Boko Haram gunmen in another car also pulled up and opened fire on the Igbos, killing them on the spot. On Monday Jan 16, 2012 members of the Boko Haram terrorist group again shot dead five Southerners in their homes in Maiduguri. Three people among those shot dead have been confirmed as Igbos.

 On 21st January 2012 at 2:55 GMT, more than 250 Southerners were killed in a series of bombings and attacks by Islamist zealots in the northern Nigerian city of Kano. The terrorist group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the attacks. On 16 March 2012, Mr. John Nubrim was visibly traumatized after fleeing the north-eastern town of Maiduguri following attacks by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. According to him, "Only God knows how I escaped from that Maiduguri. They bomb over there." "They burned my shed. All my property, all my things is there," said the young electronics trader, before letting out a short scream. "My parents, my brother and one of my sons died there."

 On February 3, 2012, men of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, struck early in the morning in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, killing four southerners. A police station and a first generation bank were burnt by the group. In another incident, at least six Igbo were killed in Maiduguri by the same Boko Haram same day. On August 8, 2012, Boko Haram terrorists attacked a church in Okene, Kogi State with guns killing so many Igbos. On the same day, an IED was discovered in another church in Lokoja, Kogi State which exploded and killed more than 20 Igbo.

 On Monday 19th March 2013, the whole world woke up to the sad news about the explosion of five luxurious buses by Boko Haram at Sabo-Ngari area in Kano State Nigeria, killing over 250 southerners and maiming several others, mostly Igbos.  On Friday May 24, 2013 at about 7:30pm, the  Kano Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya confirmed to 247ureports.com that unknown gunmen believed to be Boko Haram terrorist group struck the Kurna Asabe area of Kano and shot dead two Igbo business men- a Vulcanizer and an Electronics dealer. Both victims hailed from Nsukka, Enugu State and were identified as Ibe Ugwuanyi, 30 (Vulcanizer) and Eke Osita Joseph, an Electronics dealer, 35.

 A dark cloud of mourning enveloped the Ezihe-Umueze kindred in Uga Community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, as the people awaited the return of their kinsman, Mr. Nnamdi Ezebuala whose three children were killed in the latest Boko Haram bombing incident that occurred on July 29, 2013 in Sabongari, Kano. This very man eventually died from wounds he sustained from the bombs which killed his three children. They were all buried the same day; four of them.

 On September 2, 2013 gunmen on the rampage swept through three States of Borno, Kaduna and Plateau in Northern Nigeria killing more than 50 Igbos. On September 3, 2013 more than five Christians were forced from their vehicle in Jos and executed in a ditch in the latest attack by Boko Haram terrorist group. It was reported that these five individuals were executed by the terrorist group after declaring themselves followers of Jesus Christ. Abuja, Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:32pm EDT (Reuters) - At least seven southerners were killed by the terrorist group Boko Haram in the capital Abuja” (source: World Igbo Congress May 2014).

Yours Faithfully,

For: International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law-Intersociety

Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman

[email protected]

CC:

1.      Mr. Ban Ki-moon,  Secretary General of the United Nations, New York, USA

2.      Ms Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor for International Criminal Court, Hague, The Netherlands

3.      The United Nations Higher Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, Switzerland

4.      Secretary General of Amnesty International, London, UK

5.      The Executive Director, Human Rights Watch, New York, USA