Ogoni: MOSOP Outraged at Nigerian Military Presence
Ogoni territories have seen the arrival of Nigerian soldiers, who have brought chaos and violence to the region by attacking local communities. Troops have been sent allegedly to counter the presence of militias. Fegalo Nsuke, Publicity Secretary of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), demands the immediate withdrawal of Nigerian military and calls for dialogue with the government.
Photo courtesy of Adrian Arbib
Below is an article published by News24
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has expressed outrage at the reported invasion of Ogoni communities by the Nigerian military.
The apex organisation of the Ogoni people thus demanded the immediate withdrawal of the soldiers in the area in Rivers State.
Reports suggest there has been violence to Bori where the military has allegedly been shooting indiscriminately and advancing into adjoining communities including Zaakpon.
“We consider as extremely disappointing and unfortunate these unprovoked military violence against our people, which betrays repressively sinister motive and reminiscent of our sad past,” said Fegalo Nsuke, Publicity Secretary of MOSOP.
“We find it difficult to rationalise the wisdom in this military campaign, cruelly motivated by hidden and evil intent. No matter what may be adduced to have informed this appalling military approach, violence in our view, cannot provide the necessary solution to civil issues but dialogue.”
Nsuke said the military must therefore “tread cautiously” and maintain its independence and professionalism as well as resist attempts by some politicians to drag them into politics or being used to commit human rights abuses.
“Facts abound that Ogoni had made enormous sacrifices including paying the supreme price for the rebirth and sustenance of the current democracy. We have thus expected that we would be treated fairly and not turning our communities into theatres of violence and killing fields.”
MOSOP, a mass-based social movement organisation of the indigenous Ogoni people, appealed for the international community to intervene.
“For obvious reasons, we would be protesting the unprovoked violation of the inalienable rights of our people including the right to life to the United Nations, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation and Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission,” Nsuke said.
The Army's presence has been attributed to the prevalence of militias in the region.
