‘Military invasion of Southeast act of genocide’

A senior lawyer, Mr. Gabriel Offodile Okafor, SAN, has described the deployment and invasion of Southeast by the military as an act of genocide against peace loving people.

Okafor appealed to all lovers of Nigeria to persuade those in power to remember that instrument of state power should be used only for the benefit of citizens, pointing out that a tripod cannot stand for long on only two legs.

In a statement to The Guardian, yesterday, the senior advocate, declared: “It is inhuman and barbaric for soldiers and security forces paid with taxpayers money to turn their gun with live bullets against innocent citizens, even if armed with mere sticks. The Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of association and lawful assembly without let or hindrance.”

Okafor said that to fight security challenges, such as, robbery and kidnapping is very commendable, but noted that to deploy Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) against unarmed people in the guise of fighting security challenges was unacceptable.

“The perpetrators of the heinous crime and their commanders will be held to account if not at the municipal court, shall be at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crime against humanity,” he stressed.