The extraordinary killings of citizens of Imo State by both armed non-state actors and state actors have been condemned by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).
According to HURIWA, the state government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reluctance to consider peaceful, negotiated, and non-kinetic methods of conflict resolution have contributed to the escalation of bloody deaths in Imo State.
According to the group, the bombing at the Orlu international market on Tuesday, which resulted in scores of casualties, is the most compelling proof that South-East Nigeria’s Imo State has tragically become a killing ground.
There must be a stop to the systematic deaths of citizens by both armed non-state and armed state actors, and HURIWA demanded that all parties involved engage in comprehensive peaceful negotiations.
According to the Vilrog, on Tuesday night, there was a bomb explosion in Imo State, which the police have confirmed.
Numerous injuries were recorded as a result of the panic and chaos that ensued as individuals scurried in all directions after the explosion.
It has been stated that the explosion killed numerous innocent bystanders and people looking for legal companies.
In response, HURIWA branded it a horrific act of genocide and slammed the state’s political elite, starting with governor Hope Uzodinma, for their inability to bring the populace together and persuade the federal government to reject the violent approach to conflict resolution that has reduced Imo State to a battleground.
The reality is that formerly a tranquil region, Imo State has become a battlefield for armed state and non-state actors in the past four years.
The failure of public officials in Imo State to unite all affected parties and ensure that their voices are heard in order to achieve lasting peace and prosperity for the state is a major factor fueling the state’s seemingly endless cycle of murders.
“The central and Imo state governments’ belief that a military crackdown would end the violence in Imo State has tragically backfired, leading to even more bloodshed.”
HURIWA reiterated his earlier demand for the quick restoration of peace and economic prosperity in Imo State, urging the Igbo political, civil society, religious, and professional entities to come together.
“Honest conversations must be held immediately. The rights group went on to say that politicians from Imo state who claim to be from the state often do not actually live in Imo state, but rather operate out of Owerri.
This prevents them from using their platforms to bring the people of Imo state together and to quickly end the violence and bloodshed that has befallen the state.
“We humbly request that the governor of Imo State abide in Owerri and serve as an authentic peacebuilding leader. It is our sincere desire that peace be restored to Imo state through all reasonable means, particularly sincere dialogue and accords.”