The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has slammed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma for absolving Ebubeagu Security Network in the killing of fourteen wedding guests in Awo Mmamma, Oru East Local Government Area.
The fourteen youths, mainly indigenes of neighbouring Otulu and Mgbidi were shot dead on Sunday in Awo Mmamma.
But Uzodimma, after a security meeting on Monday said operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS murdered the youths and not Ebubeagu.
According to the governor, the youths were murdered in a camp and not at a wedding venue as alleged by the residents, adding that the propaganda that they were wedding guests is spreading by sponsors and supporters of the bandits in the state.
However, Intersociety in statement issued on Tuesday signed by its Board Chair, Emeka Umeagbalasi and other principal officers, faulted the governor’s position.
The rights group disclosed how the Ebubeagu which they described as Nigerian Army allied trained militias carried out the massacre and abducted others during traditional marriage ceremony.
Intersociety said, “We strongly condemn the 18th July 2022 massacre of 14 natives and friends of Otulu Community in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State by Nigerian Army-allied/trained militia Ebubeagu Government Militia, controlled and funded by the Hope Uzodinma-led Government of Imo State.
“From preliminary findings obtained by Intersociety, the 14 unarmed and defenceless citizens were shot at close range and massacred in neighbouring Awo-Mama Community in Oru East Local Government Area of the state when they were attending a traditional marriage in Awo-Mama Village, called Okwuoji. Scores of others were also injured. As if the above dastardly act was not enough, it was further reported that hours later, not less than 20 young men were abducted when the same Army-allied/trained militia invaded a popular Betting Shop in Okwudor Community, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. The abducted victims were labeled “Unknown Gunmen”, blindfolded and taken away to unknown destinations till now.
“The Awo-Mama massacre of 14 and Okwudor abduction of 20 had taken place less than 24hours after the release of our International Documentary that took place in USA and United Kingdom.
“The documentary had found that “in past 20 months – Oct 2020 to June 2022, soldiers of the Nigerian Military and their allied/trained Ebubeagu Government Militia and other security agencies and agents including various police crack squads attacked 150 Communities in Eastern Nigeria.
“They killed 1,360 defenceless citizens, burnt or destroyed 1,450 civilian homes, disappeared hundreds without traces, rendered 51,000 homeless and forced them out of their ancestral homes, burnt or destroyed or looted properties worth not less than N57billion and caused the loss of N600billion worth of trade and investments following the Eastern Military siege and atrocities.”
