The Nigerian Human Rights
Community (NHRC) has insisted that it is not within the jurisdiction of the
military to declare the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist
group.
In a statement by Micheal Ajayi
and Sanusi Suleiman, the group’s executive secretary, and middle belt
coordinator, NHRC said the military should have made its findings and submitted
to the National Assembly for consideration.
“The ban on IPOB is likely to
force the group underground.
“It has foreclosed the prospect
of negotiation which is an essential element of democracy and free speech,” the
statement read.
“We are not in a military regime.
It is wrong for the military that should be under civilian authority to
determine which organisation is a terrorist or not.
“In a democracy, the military
should have made its findings and submitted same to the national assembly for
deliberations.
“There is no basis to ban IPOB.
The Nigerian constitution recognises the freedom of association.
“Though IPOB declares it is
fighting for separation from a section of the country from Nigeria, the
solution is constructive engagement and not outright banning of the group.
“Under the terrorism act 10 2011
passed by the Nigerian national assembly, only a high court judge on the advice
of the national security adviser, the inspector general of police or the
attorney-general of the federation can declare an organisation a terrorist
group ad such has to be published in a Gazzzet making the proclamation of the
governors and the Military to be illegal,” it added.
The group urged the federal
government to release IPOB members in detention or charge them to court.
“We have sent a petition to the
United Nations, (UN) office in Geneva. We have already been invited in pursuant
to the procedures and expectations of the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights.
Nigeria and her component states should show respect to the dictates of
universal standards,” it said.
On Friday, the Defence
Headquarters branded IPOB a militant terrorist organisation.
The South-East governors also
announced a ban on all activities of IPOB in the geo-political zone.
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