The
Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) has insisted that it is not within the
jurisdiction of the military to declare the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)
as a terrorist group.
In a statement by Micheal Ajayi and Sanusi
Suleiman, the group’s executive secretary, and middle belt coordinator, NHRC
said the military should have made its findings and submitted to the National
Assembly for consideration.
“It has foreclosed the prospect of negotiation
which is an essential element of democracy and free speech,” the statement
read.
“We are not in a military regime. It is wrong
for the military that should be under civilian authority to determine which
organisation is a terrorist or not.
“In a democracy, the military should have made
its findings and submitted same to the national assembly for deliberations.
“Though IPOB declares it is fighting for
separation from a section of the country from Nigeria, the solution is
constructive engagement and not outright banning of the group.
“Under the terrorism act 10 2011 passed by the
Nigerian national assembly, only a high court judge on the advice of the
national security adviser, the inspector general of police or the
attorney-general of the federation can declare an organisation a terrorist
group ad such has to be published in a Gazzzet making the proclamation of the
governors and the Military to be illegal,” it added.
The group urged the federal government to
release IPOB members in detention or charge them to court.
On Friday, the Defence Headquarters branded IPOB
a militant terrorist organisation.
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