In the wake of a new government, both at the State and Federal levels, cases that were left sleeping have been awaken. While the Federal Government is revisiting the case of Dele Giwa, the veteran investigative journalist murdered during the Ibrahim Babangida administration through a Letter Bomb, State governments are calling up cases of corruption by past administrations and unresolved issues in courts, Tribunals and political riots. Files and cases are opened and uncompleted investigations are continued.
In Lagos State, the epicenter of the Endsars protests and Lekki Toll Gate massacre, the government submitted its reports, claiming there was no massacre or mass death at the Tollgate. They said they had compensated some victims of the riots, arson, both among families of police officers, shops and car owners in the city of Lagos whose properties were vandalized by hoodlums. Nevertheless, the youth and Human Rights bodies feel dissatisfied with the reports as they still believe more lives were lost than was been reported. They would want the case revisited. They are demanding for justice.
In Rivers State, the case between the State government and the global family of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu seems not to be over. The group had complained that while the Lagos State set up a panel of enquiry to hear from the victims of the Lekki Tollgate riot which was later termed a “massacre”, nothing was heard of the “Obigbo massacre” since they both happened at the same time in 2020.
Although the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, ordered a full investigation into the incidents and the prosecution of the culprits, when he led commanders of other security agencies in the state to the Oyigbo council area,no report was released until the last administration was over.
The people of Oyigbo are still calling for justice and the present government led by Gov SIM Fubara is seeking justice by the continuous search for suspected “perpetrators” of the killing of soldiers, police and innocent civilians, that is,suspected IPOB members who the police claimed operated under the guise of #ENDSARS protests.
The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan,who condemned the attack on public and private property, had described it as ‘ill-conceived, most unfortunate while accusing the Igbo groups of carrying out the acts. He also said, “The command will stop at nothing until the perpetrators of these dastardly acts are arrested and brought to justice.’’
Therefore, the police will “stop at nothing” until those they declare wanted are apprehended. Last year, there were reports the army raided the houses of suspected IPOB members and made some arrests.
When this development reached our news desk, Emdee David Blog tried to follow up with a few of the people contacted in 2020 to confirm the development. Some of them could not be reached including Nkechinyere Scholastica Chukwuemeka whose story was reported in the media. However, a call to her family member went through and it was confirmed that there was a raid by the police in Oyigbo community. The family member who pleaded for anonymity explained that before this raid, rumour had filtered in that this would happen and that Nkechinyere had fled the country, as many others did to escape the consequence of been wrongly blamed for the killings of soldiers and police.
The family member also hinted that Nkechinyere was sent abroad to study for her masters when it became clear that her life was still in danger. He however did not disclose the country she is now studying. It was also confirmed that men of the Nigerian army had sometime in October 2023 stormed the home of one Mr. Ben Okoronkwo who Nkechinyere had ones lived with. They tried to force him to give out her where about, but he refused. In the struggle not to allow him be taken away, one of the military officer started beating him and then hit his chest with the butt of his gun Mr. Okoronkwo fell down and all efforts to revive him was in vain, as he was later confirmed dead on that same spot.
Cases like this is what the Nigerian youths are fighting to stop. How many more would have to die for this to stop? The security forces that are meant to protect the citizens are the ones harming them. The people do not feel safe in their own land. This is why the likes of Omoyele Sowore, Aisha Yesufu, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other social and political activists are calling a revolution or total restructuring of Nigerian political system to allow the protection and respect of human rights of every citizen.
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