HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA [HURIWA] -a civil society group committed to the promotion of democracy and development has upbraided the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force [NPF] for forcefully dispersing and arresting over four hundred peaceful agitators in Enugu, Enugu State who were democratically and peacefully canvassing for self determination.
In a statement authorized by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Chief of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NiGERIA, the pro-democracy group faulted the arrest in the most primitive and fascist fashion of the Enugu-based pro-Biafra agitators and demanded their unconditional release from the brutal detention facilities of the Nigeria Police.
Specifically, in the thinking of HURIWA, peaceful and strictly non-violent agitation for self determination by any Nigerian group is lawful locally and internationally under the Universal Declarations of Human Rights of 10th December 1948 and the International Covenant on civil and political Rights of which Nigeria is a major signatory.
HURIWA stated that; ”We totally and absolutely condemn the brutality and inhumane treatment meted out to innocent citizens who have democratically decided to openly canvass for the creation of a separate political entity because they believe that Nigeria as currently constituted has failed to advance their fundamental and inherent human rights which include right to self determination. We appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Nigeria Police Force to either release the four hundred political detainees or order their prosecution if Government is convinced that agitation for self determination is unlawful and unconstitutonal”