Amnesty International has sent a word of caution to members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and security agencies in Nigeria ahead of the burial ceremony of Nnamdi Kanu’s parents.
The organization has said that they should ensure that peace reigns during the event as preparations continue for the burial scheduled to take place tomorrow, February 14, 2020.
The warning comes following reports of large numbers of military personnel in Afara Ukwu, as soldiers were spotted patrolling the region and allegedly harassing residents.
The death of Nnamdi Kanu’s father, Eze Israel Kanu, was first announced in the latter part of last year (December precisely), just two months after his wife passed away.
In a statement made yesterday, Country Director of Amnesty International, Ossai Ojigho, stated that the military and IPOB members should make sure that there is no case of violence during the funeral ceremony.
The Nigerian security forces must exercise restraint and prevent a repetition of the September 2017 events that left at least 20 people killed and some still missing when the military attempted to arrest Nnamdi Kanu in his home in Afara Ukwu.
While law enforcement officers are within their rights to carry out their lawful duties, the use of force should be proportional and strictly limited to those situations where it is absolutely necessary.
Both IPOB supporters and security forces must at all times respect and protect human rights of all. Concerns about possible violence during the funeral must be addressed within the framework of human rights and rule of law.Ossai Ojigho
