Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor the executive director of the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy Development (FENRAD) has accused security agencies of deploying brute force, Intimidation, and harassment to mount pressure on the country’s civic space, halt lawful agitation, a situation he said violates the people’s democratic rights.
At a multi-stakeholders dialogue on civil- Military Relations in South East, in collaboration with the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) on Wednesday, Nwafor accused state actors of violating the people’s rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of Association, in breach of their constitutional right.
He stated that the members of the Action Group on Free Civic Space in Nigeria’s Southeast conducted research in 2021, which was published as a security playbook stressing that the study looked into the issue of shrinking civic Space in the southeast of Nigeria in relation to the country’s rising securitization.
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He said the arbitrary arrest and detention of agitators by state actors is uncalled for and causes a sense hostile environment in minds of people of the region.
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“However, despite the security agencies intervention, many Nigerians continue to live in constant fear of attacks from criminal elements as they are no longer safe in their homes or elsewhere”
“More terrifying still is how indifferent the government seems to be toward these problems, which seems to be getting worse by the day,” he said.
Lt Col.T.A.O Okundaye who represented the 14th Commander in charge of the 14 Brigade of Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Adegoke Moses Adetuyi, speaking during the stakeholder’s dialogue Said the military is the military of the people and that is shocking the way people run from uniform men and the ills that is noticed now is from the society adding that both the uniform men are from the society.
He said the first role of the military is to protect Nigerians from External Aggression adding that what is done now is Military Trade to Civil Authority that is those voted into power.
He further said everyone should understand each other adding that the military needs everyone due to the fact that the work can’t be done by the military alone.
Speaking with newsmen Philip Kachi Uwaegbu, the traditional ruler for Umuahia north, Enyiukwu autonomous Community Afaraukwu Ibeku said there is a lot of disunity in the communities and there should be an alternative to return sanity to the communities for peace to reign.
HRM Eze Sir Innocent Adiele Nwaigwe, Ikoga II of Okaga Alike Ohuhu Umuahia North, and the secretary of the traditional rulers Umuahia north said the need to have a good working relationship with all the security agencies is very important adding that confidence is to be restored in civil society to enable the people have peace.
The representative of Women Affairs and social development Very Rev Jane Nmerenye said the dialogue is apt as it concerns the women and children adding that in situations like this the women are usually the casualties stressing that the issue of women and children should be properly guided.
The OC Legal of Nigerian Correctional Service, CAC Onunka Emmanuel Chijioke said the dialogue is centered on how to improve the relationship with security agencies and the communities adding that the dialogue came at the right time to ensure peace.
The executive Director FENRAD Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor while briefing newsmen said the dialogue is timely and is a need for stakeholders to discuss and find a lasting solution to the security issues across the southeastern states to ensure peace and security across the southeast zone.
The security agencies, Traditional Rulers, Ministry of Women Affairs, National Human Right Commission Abia State, The Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), and Ministry Of Youth Development amongst others were in the meeting.
