The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has accused officers of the Nigerian Army of killing unarmed Igbo protesters in Aba, Abia State.
According to the group, the protesters were demanding the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement issued by the president general of the coalition, Goodluck Ibem, on Friday, March 31, 2023, the incident was described as “wicked, barbaric, and lawlessness of the highest order.”
COSEYL has called for the immediate arrest, dismissal, and prosecution of the security agents involved in the attack on the protesters.
The coalition also urged the international community, the United Nations, and all advocates of democracy to take action against those responsible for the alleged killings. Ibem’s statement further described the incident as “a genocide of the highest order.”
The coalition criticized the Nigerian military, claiming that they have not arrested or confronted Fulani terrorists and jihadists, who have been responsible for the deaths of innocent Nigerians. Ibem stated, “Their guns and bullets are only active when they see innocent Igbos.”
The accusations against the Nigerian army have ignited discussions surrounding the treatment of protesters in the country, raising concerns about human rights violations and the need for proper investigations into such incidents.
“We call on the International Community, the United Nations, and all lovers of democracy to take action against the perpetrators of this heinous act,” the group said in a terse statement to The Trent.
“What happened today, where innocent persons were butchered in broad daylight, is a genocide of the highest order.
“The same military officers have never for once arrested or gunned down any Fulani terrorists and jihadists killing Innocent Nigerians on a daily basis. Their guns and bullets are only active when they see innocent Igbos”.
