The Nigerian Army has requested that the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International take “immediate action” to hold Simon Ekpa, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, and other members of the group responsible for crimes against civilians in the South East.
The abuse of unarmed and law-abiding civilian by IPOB in the area must be denounced “in the strongest terms” by the international community, according to the statement.
The request was made by the Army on Sunday in a statement released by Maj-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, the army’s spokesman, in response to a widely shared video that showed members of IPOB abusing a former Nigerian Army soldier.
The statement said: “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.”
The statement said that operations against terrorism and insurgency in the Southeast and other regions of the nation had lately been stepped up by the army and other security forces.
It added, “The recent annihilation of key terrorist leaders in identified terrorists’ strongholds is indicative of this commitment.
“The villainous acts of terror by Simon Ekpa and his accomplices must come to an end, as justice will soon catch up with them. They can run, but they can’t hide forever.”
