The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Ebonyi Branch, has called on the Police to carry out a thorough investigation into the recent killing of 11 Abakaliki indigenes in Anambra.
The state Secretary of the committee, Mr Jerry Onyibe, made the call on Wednesday, while reacting to the incident at a news briefing in Abakiliki.
Onyibe specifically appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently order an investigation into the gruesome June 30 massacre.
He said that the group strongly condemn the incident, which occured at Ugboji Community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra.
According to him, the burden now lies on the IGP to unmask the perpetrators and ensure they were brought to justice to deter a recurrence of such heinous crime.
“The gruesome, despicable, and unimaginable events that transpired on Monday, June 30, are utterly condemnable.
“And we demand an unfettered and timely investigation to ascertain the motive behind the attack as well as identify those responsible,” Onyibe said.
He said that the committee’s preliminary findings revealed that gunmen arrived in two Sports Utility Vehicles at the venue of a monthly meeting of Ebonyi people in Ugboji.
“After questioning the attendees about their gathering and alleging that Abakaliki people were obstructing them in their own territory, the gunmen provokingly opened fire, leaving no fewer than 11 persons dead and many others with varying degrees of gunshot injuries,” he said.
The CDHR boss described the assault as part of a disturbing pattern of targeted attacks in the state.
“This brazen and merciless attack is not an isolated incident, as Anambra has witnessed a troubling trend of targeted killings and violence against specific groups,” Onyibe also said.
He further cited a recent case in which a boy was allegedly shot dead by operatives of the state security outfit, Operation Udo Gachi, without any accountability to date.
The group urged the police authorities to act decisively to safeguard lives and ensure justice for the victims and their families.
(NAN)
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