Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned the ongoing attacks on political opponents and non-members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State.
The National Coordinator, HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, made this call in Abuja, at a press briefing, asking the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to replace the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Garba for his alleged complicity and for allegedly working in cahoots with the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; and the ruling APC in the country to terrorize opposition parties.
The group expressed its anti-democratic tendencies in an open display in Ebonyi and vowed to petition foreign missions, especially the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia about the increased threat to the lives of political opposition politicians in Ebonyi State.
HURIWA has vowed to ask Governor Umahi for a visa ban if, within seven working days, there is no significant improvement in the basic human rights of all politicians regardless of affiliation.
The group also condemned the use of the state security outfit, Ebubeagu, to intimidate political opponents of Governor Umahi of the APC in Ebonyi. Umahi, whose eight-year term as governor ends on May 31, is the APC senatorial candidate for the district.
HURIWA said it is on record that Governor Umahi, due to his intolerance of political enemies in the state, ordered the police and other security agencies to withdraw orders and security details from political party candidates, director generals and other party officials from the APC.
Onwubiko said: “Any form of political violence is an offense under the 2022 Electoral Act and a crime under the existing criminal law in Nigeria and its manifestation must be arrested immediately as it endangers national security amid the upcoming elections.
“HURIWA condemns the harassment, intimidation, killing of political opposition in Ebonyi State and the criminal and anti-democratic and unconstitutional activities of Ebubeagu in Ebonyi as a tool against the governor.
“We are calling on the IGP to replace the commissioner of police in Ebonyi who is accused of compromising neutrality and allowing Ebubeagu’s criminality to continue. We are also calling on the National Assembly, DSS, National Security Adviser, President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps to reduce the excesses of the derailed barbaric outfit .
“As a group, we also demand an independent investigation into all allegations of politically motivated killings in Enonyi State and demand that the outgoing governor be a democrat and allow freedom of expression and information and freedom of movement by all political contestants in Ebonyi State.
“HURIWA will not hesitate to write to the US, UK Australia about the higher level of threats to the lives of political opposition politicians in Ebonyi State and request a visa ban for the governor if within seven working days there is no significant improvement in respect of human rights the basic human being of all politicians regardless of affiliation.