The petition addressed to the office of ICC Prosecutor Mr Karim A.A. Khan is against President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, over alleged ethnic cleansing, stabbing and bombing of residents of the community and the Urhobo people in general.
A civil society organisation has petitioned the International Criminal Court on behalf of Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State where 17 military personnel were killed in March.
The petition addressed to the office of ICC Prosecutor Mr Karim A.A. Khan is against President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, over alleged ethnic cleansing, stabbing and bombing of residents of the community and the Urhobo people in general.
It is asking the Evidence and Discovery Management Unit – EDMU, Office of the Prosecutor in the Hague to investigate the allegations.
The petition was dated April 21, 2024 and addressed to the ICC prosecutor, was signed by the Global Coordinator of the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN), Dr. Frederick Omoyoma Odorige.
“We are writing to you, to request that you kindly use your good office to open an investigation and take necessary actions on matters related to this petition as it borders on the urgent preservation of lives.
“It has become imperative for us to present this petition because the horrible issues raised herein, have become the norm. If not addressed immediately, the multiple crimes against humanity could lead to ethnic cleansing of genocidal proportion.
“The first case enumerated below is a replica of what occurred in three other locations of Nigeria - 20 November 1999 (Odi massacre, Bayelsa State); 7 and 8 April 2021 (Konshisha, Benue State); between 20 and 24 October 2001 (Zaki-biam massacre, Benue state),” part of the petition read.
It recounted that “on 14 March 2024, a group of 17 soldiers were reportedly killed in the Urhobo-speaking Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria, under controversial circumstances.
“Though we deeply sympathize with the victims and families of this heinous crime and support any legal efforts by the government to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the dastardly act, the consequent reprisals against innocent Nigerians under the guise of investigation, is baffling.
“It was reported that the soldiers initially killed some civilians during a town hall meeting after aggressions by the soldiers in an attempt to enforce unlawful arrest. We deeply sympathize with the families of the Okuama people that were killed and support any legal efforts by the government to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
“In response to the killings, President Bola Tinubu gave `full authority` to the army to investigate the killing of the soldiers (which is supposed to be the responsibility of the police by virtue of Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Force Act 2020).”
It alleged: “Thereafter, the community was unlawfully cordoned off and the people were tortured, killed and their homes were either razed or destroyed by the army. Untold atrocities and acts of aggression have been committed against the Okuama people and others by the Nigerian army superintended by President Tinubu.
“This invasion is subtly intended towards ethnic cleansing of the Urhobo people. Though Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa publicly stated before the press that the Army knew those who killed Lieutenant Col A.H Ali and his troops, yet, the army harassed, brutalized and killed innocent people.
“In his words: ‘We know who did this, we are following up with him, and it’s just a matter of time, we are sure we are going to get him’.
“While the army claimed that the 17 soldiers were unarmed when they visited Okuama community on 14 March, they later contradicted themselves by claiming that some of the firearms of the ‘unarmed’ slain soldiers have been recovered.
“The murderous reprisal attacks on the innocent people of Okuama, is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights. Thereafter, the Okuama people were forced to flee into the forest and neighbouring communities.
“Within a period of 30 days at different locations, members of the Nigerian army have stabbed and tortured Seven Nigerians to death. Details below.
“Between January 2017 and December 2023, hundreds of innocent Nigerians have been bombed by the Nigerian army on 18 instances with neither honour nor compensation to their families. On many occasions, the army denied their attacks and later agreed after the affected families had buried their loved ones.”
The petition said, “Since the authorisation given to the army by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, their actions have been unbridled and murderous through unlawful activities and deprivation of human rights.
“While the soldiers carried out the atrocities, the president watched in agreement and remained silent. Such actions by the soldiers include but not limited to laying violent siege on the Okuama community and forcing the people to escape to the forest and neighbouring communities.
“Children, women, the elderly and other youths who fled to the forest were exposed to inhuman and excruciating conditions as they faced starvation which triggered humanitarian crisis. Most of the forcefully displaced persons have become too afraid to return to the community to rebuild their homes which have been completely destroyed.
“Their rights to dignity, private and family life have been violently removed. In some of the neighbouring communities, they refused to accommodate the people from Okuama because they feared that rampaging soldiers could further invade and brutalize the host communities.
“Razing of the houses of the Okuama people. Using caterpillars to destroy the structures of the Okuama people and to reportedly bury some persons they killed. In order to hide the atrocities, the soldiers forcefully prevented the Governor of the state, Sheriff Oborevwori and the state Commissioner of police from entering the community for 31 days.
“The army needed this period to hide and bury their atrocities and to destroy local infrastructures.”
Odorige said a video and photograph were attached to the petition.
Kindly note that, by law, the executive governor of the state, by virtue of Section 215 (4) of the Nigerian Constitution states ought to be giving directives on security to the State Commissioner of Police.
“Olota community is around 50 kilometers from Okuama. Under the guise of investigating the killing of the 17 soldiers, Joseph Willie was tortured, slumped, and died after the military brutality... this is even as the eardrum of one brutalized victim, Reuben Awanriarere, has been impaired, while another villager, Okwagbe Ebirie, cannot walk after the severe beating he received,” it said.
The petition further noted, “The Army declared some persons wanted in connection with the killing of the 17 soldiers. Among them is the King of the community referred to as the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty Clement Oghenerukvwe Ikolo. He surrendered himself and declared his innocence to the Police on 29 March 2024.
“Against the law, the police handed him over to the army who flew him to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. He was unlawfully detained for 21 days without prosecution until his conditional release on 19 April 2024.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army stormed the Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to commit crimes against humanity. They razed houses and killed at least 11 persons under the guise of investigating the killing of 17 soldiers.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army stormed the residence of Sobomabo Jackrich in Usokun, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State and killed two of his aides under the guise of investigating the killing of 17 soldiers.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army arrested 10 persons to an unknown destination, razed houses and looted speed boats at Olota under the guise of investigating the killing of 17 soldiers. There are fears whether the arrested persons may ever return alive.
“The brutal harassment continues as the army embarks on stop and search on the streets. The people are now enveloped in fear while their freedom of movement is being restricted.”
The petitioner stated that from “14 March 2024 onward, soldiers torture and kill Nigerians in Okuama, Olota, etc, under the guise of investigation.”