The Nigerian Army has requested Amnesty International (AI) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take “immediate action” and hold the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its sponsor, Simon Ekpa, accountable for crime against civilians in the South-East region.
The Army, which made the call in a statement by its spokesman, Maj-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, yesterday, while reacting to a viral video that showed IPOB members torturing an ex-soldier of the Nigerian Army, said the international community must condemn the mistreatment “in the strongest terms” of an unarmed and law-abiding citizen by IPOB in the region.
The statement read: “The Nigerian Army has taken serious note of a disturbing video circulating online, posted by the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of IPOB, Simon Ekpa. In the appalling footage, an ex-soldier, Corporal Toriola Adewale, who honourably retired from the Nigerian Army six years ago, was subjected to brutal torture by the so-called ‘IPOB/ Biafra Liberation Army’.
“He was also forced to deliver coerced messages to active military personnel, urging them to abdicate their Constitutional responsibilities and abandon their duties. This defenceless citizen was further compelled to falsely claim he was treated well while being held captive.
“It must be unequivocally stated that the claim by IPOB and its terrorist leader that ex-corporal Toriola is still serving in the Nigerian Army is far from the truth. This outrageous propaganda by the IPOB terrorist group is undoubtedly an attempt to justify their savage mistreatment of an unarmed, law-abiding citizen who served his country meritoriously. Such dehumanizing acts must be condemned in the strongest terms by the international community.
“The Nigerian Army therefore, urges all Nigerians to disregard this malicious video and stand united against the vile acts of terrorism perpetrated against Nigerians, and particularly, the good and law-abiding people of South-East Nigeria by IPOB terrorists. It is no gainsaying that an overwhelming majority of Nigerians in the South-East and across the nation have already rejected the criminal propaganda spread by IPOB.
“The savage treatment of innocent citizens like ex-corporal Toriola and other law-abiding Nigerians must not be treated with levity. We call on all relevant international organisations, including Amnesty International and the International Criminal Court, to take immediate action and hold Simon Ekpa and other IPOB terrorist elements accountable for these heinous crimes.”
According to the statement, the Army and other security agencies have recently intensified operations to fight terrorism and insurgency in the South-East and other parts of the country.
