Extrajudicial killing in Umuahia: FENRAD demands justice for victim’s family

Stanley Ihedigbo

Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), has strongly condemned the gruesome and unwarranted shooting of a young man by operatives of Operation Crush in Umuahia, Abia State.

In a statement signed by Executive Director, FENRAD, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, according to verified accounts and eyewitness reports, the young man, whose identity is now known to the public, was shot at close range by security personnel attached to Operation Crush, a joint task force reportedly established to combat crime.

The tragic incident occurred in broad daylight and in the presence of civilians, leaving the community of Umuahia shocked and traumatized.

Also according to multiple eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at Imo Lane off Owerri Road Umuahia after the deceased reportedly disagreed with another young man in the neighbourhood.

The other party in the dispute allegedly contacted security operatives who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards.

On sighting the operatives the deceased was said to have taken off prompting a chase by the security team. The witness alleged that during the pursuit, the operatives fired shots at very close range, hitting the fleeing young man in the stomach.

The bullet was said to have hit his stomach and exited through his body, shattering the windscreen of a parked SUV nearby

FENRAD decried the blatant abuse of power and viewed it as one in a series of unlawful killings and rights violations committed by some disgruntled elements within security outfits operating in Abia and across Nigeria.

No security architecture, no matter the noble intentions behind its formation, should operate above the law or outside the confines of constitutional order.

This latest act of impunity not only violates the right to life as enshrined in Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) but also contravenes all international human rights standards to which Nigeria is a signatory, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.

FENRAD is therefore calling for the immediate investigation into the incident by an independent panel, possibly involving the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Civil Society Organisations, and community leaders.

Full prosecution of those found culpable is in line with the law to serve as a deterrent to future abuses.

Compensation and support to the family of the deceased for the unjust loss and trauma suffered.

Review and reform of Operation Crush and similar security units to ensure adherence to rules of engagement and human rights standards.

FENRAD maintained that a society where security agencies operate without accountability is one on the path to tyranny. We urge the Abia State Government, Nigeria Police Force, and all relevant security institutions to act swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in this matter.