Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to fish out the soldiers who allegedly killed two persons at Okere community, in Warri, Delta State, on Saturday.
This was disclosed in a statement by National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko.
HURIWA also called on the Army chief to prosecute them for alleged murder before a court martial or regular court.
The group said this will show that Lagbaja’s leadership doesn’t tolerate extra judicial killings of citizens who are supposed to be protected by security forces maintained with taxpayers’ money.
It expressed worry that sufficient efforts have not been made by the hierarchy of the Nigeria Army to instil discipline and professionalism among the personnel.
The group described as unwarranted, barbaric, unconstitutional, and disturbing, the alleged killing of the two young persons.
Citing media information, HURIWA recalled that the victims were shot by security operatives believed to be soldiers of 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army.
HURIWA said: “The hierarchy of the Army should take much more than a routine approach towards confronting this latest report of soldiers’ involvement in unlawful killings of citizens.”
“The circumstances that characterised this latest story of abysmal conduct of some unruly soldiers is such that one begins to ask whether those soldiers were actually taken through the rudimentary training they ought to have passed through before being handed guns.
“There is no justification for these killings of very young citizens. These killings are provocative and absolutely despicable. The killers must be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
