A group, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has condemned the alleged mass arrest of innocent residents of Aba and invasion of homes, hotels and markets by military personnel, describing the action as an overkill.
The group, which reiterated its condemnation of the gruesome killing of five soldiers at Obikabia junction by unidentified hoodlums, said that resorting to the mass arrest of innocent people was not the best way for the Army to track down the real culprits of the attack.
In a statement signed by FENRAD’s Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the group said that it was only in support of lawful and professional initiatives capable of bringing to book real killers of the Army officers.
“FENRAD witnessed the forced closure of markets in Aba, like Ahịaọhụrụ, cemetery Market, Ariaria International Market and other markets, though calm is gradually returning now.
“All through last weekend, Aba was under a belligerent occupation, even aerially. While justice to the slain soldiers is essential, key, and paramount, an overkill is outright wrong, as is any countervalue military operation”, said Nwafor.
The group informed Governor Alex Otti that heavy military occupation and alleged arrest of innocent persons were capable of scaring investors and therefore, urged the Army to maintain rules of engagement in their search for the real culprits.
It reiterated the call on the Abia State government and the military authorities to install CCTV cameras at all military checkpoints in Abia, to expose and nab criminal elements.
Meanwhile, Governor Alex Otti, while on a visit to the Nigerian Army 144 Battalion, Abayi Aba on Thursday, pleaded with the officers not to punish innocent suspects.
Mass arrest, torture of innocent suspects in Aba an overkill – Group
