Amnesty raps Nigeria over using excessive force against pro-Biafra protesters

Amnesty International has accused Nigeria’s military of using excessive force in shooting dead unarmed separatists in south of the country.

The military clashed with supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group which calls for independence of the region of Biafra from Nigeria, in the city of Onitsha and surrounding communities late last month.

The pro-Biafra supporters had gathered to mark Biafra’s declaration of independence in 1967.

Nigerian police have put the death toll from the violence at 10 people, five in the town of Onitsha in Anambra state and five in Asaba of Delta state, but the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement said at least 35 people were killed in the clashes.

Meanwhile, Amnesty says at least 17 people were killed and about 50 others were injured in Onitsha alone.

"The real number is likely to be higher," the rights organization warned in a statement but it failed to determine the exact number of casualties, saying soldiers took away the dead and injured.

The UK-based rights group also said some of the dead and injured had been shot in the back, which indicates that they were fleeing the scene when they were shot, in remarks refuting army’s claims that its troops killed the protesters in self-defense.

"Opening fire on peaceful IPOB supporters and bystanders, who clearly posed no threat to anyone is an outrageous use of unnecessary and excessive force," said Amnesty's Nigeria director, MK Ibrahim.

Ibrahim further said that one person was shot dead while sleeping.

Citing IPOB supporters, Amnesty's report said the soldiers stormed a church where demonstrators were sleeping the night before the rally and started firing teargas. A witness also said a young boy was shot dead while his hands were up.

The army dismissed the claims, saying the pro-Biafran protesters were armed and violent.

"Wanton destruction of lives and properties were brazenly carried out by the protesters who employed firearms, crude weapons as well as other volatile cocktails such as acid and dynamites,” army spokesman Colonel Ha Gambo said.

He claimed that the demonstrators killed two Nigerian policemen, injured several soldiers and burnt a police vehicle.

Amnesty also said it could not confirm the police deaths, adding that it had seen "no evidence" the security services acted in self-defense.

The IPOB movement was founded by Nnamdi Kanu, who is awaiting trial on charges of treason and felony in a high-profile case in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.

Kanu was arrested in October 2015 for allegedly delivering "seditious messages" against the Nigerian government.

IPOB supporters have staged a series of protests across the country in recent months to demand Kanu’s release and call for a breakaway state for the Igbo people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.

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