Activists in US, UK condemn killings in Ondo, Benue, Kaduna
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Human rights activists in the United States and the United Kingdom have condemned escalating bloodbaths in Nigeria, chronicling just one week of high fatalities in Ondo, Benue, and Kaduna.
American religious freedom lawyers – US Nigeria Law Group (USNLG) – and a former US State Department official also criticised Washington’s report on Nigeria.
A statement issued by USNLG Managing Partner Emmanuel Ogebe – a human rights lawyer based in Washington, who is also Special Counsel, Justice for Jos Project (USA) – listed the massacres to include:
- More than 50 worshippers massacred at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
- Fulani Islamist jihadists aided by a military helicopter killed 32 people and destroyed an ECWA Church in Kajuru, Southern Kaduna.
- Terrorists killed 32 people in Edumoga, Benue State and burnt houses.
- More than 120 civilians slaughtered in one week alone in the genocide going on in Nigeria.
The statement produced additional details as follows:
1. Owo massacre
Our investigators have found that the Owo massacre victims are still purchasing drugs themselves and still feeding themselves in hospital while [President Muhammadu] Buhari and APC [All Progressives Congress] were feasting on national TV.
This is completely unconscionable, insensitive and distasteful.
Ironically, a member of the UK House of Lords has shown more empathy than them, personally identifying and recognising victims https://www.davidalton.net/2022/06/12/ordinary-people-living-ordinary-lives-were-the-victims-in-nigerias-church-murder-impunity-insecurity-instability-intolerance-and-indifference-must-be-replaced-by-justice-protection-and/
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2. Edumoga massacre
One of our investigators recounted how, “at about 4:00am on Sunday [12 June 2022], Fulani terrorists invaded Igama my hometown in Edumoga and burnt down houses with human beings sleeping and killed over 30 persons.
“I tried reaching my parents who were at the other side of the community and could not reach them till yesterday.
“I got my mom who said when the rumour got to the youths in my village the told children, women, the sick and elderly to run into the bush while the men and the youths stayed behind to fight.
“So many families are presently displaced and are all in Ojapo right now. They said that they will attack five communities.
“My people don’t even have any weapon, apart from their hunting guns nothing more … the government has failed to protect our people and their properties from Fulani terrorists.
“In the Igama Edumoga massacre in Okpokwu Local Govt almost all their houses and foodstuffs were destroyed and burnt leaving all the villagers hungry and naked.
“Pls men and women of goodwill should donate clothes, used and new, and any type of foodstuff.”
3. Kajuru, southern Kaduna
One of our sources reported that “earlier today I spoke to a survivor and eyewitness of last Sunday’s attack in Kajuru and he narrated to me how a certain white painted helicopter came killing the southern Kaduna people (Christians) instead of the turbaned terrorists riding on motorcycles.
“During the attack not a single terrorist was killed while the indigenous Adara people recovered 32 dead bodies of their brothers and sisters.
“I want to categorically state that the helicopter sighted by the villagers didn’t come to protect the them, instead it was for and by the terrorists.”
Another source narrated: “She [an eyewitness] said the helicopter also came sole(ly) to attack the natives as it did not go near where the armed herdsmen could be seen on their bikes with their guns.
“Bottom left is displaying a bullet and a wound on the lower left knee of 18-year-old Shedrack Joshua where a bullet fired from the helicopter grazed passed.
“At least 32 persons where killed in the attack that lasted for six hours when Dogon Noma, Anguwan Sarki, and Maikori were invaded. Many are still missing.”
Ogebe seeks aid for victims in Kaduna, Benue
Ogebe said “while we are still investigating the various mass casualty atrocities above, we urge Nigerians especially the political elite to come to the aid of the southern Kaduna and Benue victims the way they rushed to parade themselves for the Ondo massacre unless it was purely an APC primaries theatrics.
“They cannot continue dining high while their citizens roast.”
