Bodo is in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has said a pregnant mother was among the protesters assaulted by Nigerian soldiers and police officers in Bodo community.
Bodo is in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke said the pregnant woman identified as Blessing Ngo; and other protesters including one Madam Salas were beaten and dragged out naked by security agencies.
Condemning the alleged assault on the helpless people of Ogoni land in the statement signed by MOSOP Secretary General, Alex Akori, the group described the condition of the pregnant woman as critical.
Nsuke said MOSOP is appalled by the unending invasion of Ogoni communities by security teams over civil disputes. According to the group, such invasions usually come with assault, impunity and human rights violations.
MOSOP said it approves of legitimate actions of the police and other security agencies to track and check crime, Nsuke, however, said the group strongly disapproves of the use of state instruments to repress legitimate opposition, limit freedoms and settle civil disputes among community dwellers.
According to the statement, the harassment and molestation of natives including women and children cannot be justifiable under any circumstance.
Nsuke said, "The repressive tactics of using state power to suppress alternative voices and the role played by Shell in these violations were condemnable.
"The Nigerian security forces have always leaned on claims of dealing with bandits when they want to unleash terror on people, noting that if there are some identified lawbreakers in the community, it is within the capacity of the police to address such issues and not the use of a combined team of armed security men to harass, molest and unleash terror on innocent community dwellers.
"Our information has it that a chieftaincy issue has erupted in the Bodo community due to the handling of the recent multiple oil spill cases. This is a civil and normal internal community issue which does not bear any semblance of violence and so the use of military teams to raid community dwellers including conducting night raids, harassing and molestation of women and citizens are not acceptable.
"We have independently investigated the chieftaincy disputes in the community and confirmed its linkage with the recent Shell oil spills. While we urge the people to resist Shell's well-known divide-and-conquer antics, we urge peace and respect for citizens’ rights and not the use of state military forces to suppress the people's rights to free expression and alternative views."
MOSOP also called for an end to violent raids in the communities and an investigation into such incidents including cases of molestation.
“We would also demand the prosecution of all those found wanting in these violations,” it said.
MOSOP further urged all parties to respect traditional channels of dispute resolution to address all chieftaincy issues and disagreements over the handling of oil spill cases.
Some of the natives identified as victims of the raids are Theresa Megan; Madam Salas, who allegedly has fluid flowing from her ears; Kpegele and Miriam Pango.