Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of sponsoring terrorism in the South-East region.
HURIWA also accused the five South-East governors of being complicit even though, the group they may not be putting in their resources as sponsors.
The group stated this in a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, adding that the world must be informed that the South East is now facing state sponsored terrorism with the direct link to Abuja’s seat of political power.
According to the group, the sponsored terrorism targeting South-East is gaining ground because both Buhari and the governors of the region have failed to put effective security mechanisms to confront the terrorists for the reason that the armed Fulani kidnappers and herdsmen.
HURIWA further stated that these terrorists, who may not be from the South East Region, unleashing violence across all parts of South East of Nigeria are being pampered by the political powers that be in Abuja.
HURIWA noted that in just only within two weeks, Buhari had made two statements that betrays his hatred for the Igbo ethnicity.
“The first one was when he threatened to revisit the South East with the civil war treatment in such a way that he bragged that he will deal with agitators belonging to the indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the language that they understand which is widely interpreted to mean ruthless violence.”
“Buhari then escalated his Coordinated attack against the South East of Nigeria by describing the region as ‘only a dot in the circle of Nigerian Map’ just as he pejoratively referred to Ndigbo as IPOB as if he is unaware that the ethnicity known as Igbo is not the other name for IPOB since IPOB is only a group of some Young agitators who are democratically agitating for self-determination.
HURIWA noted that during an interview with Arise on Thursday Buhari had categorically stated that IPOB is Igbo, which according to the group, indicates that he is either deliberately engaging in selective amnesia or wilful forgetfulness.
The group reminded Buhari that agitating peacefully for self-government, self-rule or self-determination are recognised under the international covenants on civil and political rights.
The human rights group pointed out that saying that IPOB is Igbo is the same as saying Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, is Fulani.