Youths in Imo State under the aegis of Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, OYA, has accused vigilante groups in Orlu zone of indulging in extra judicial killing, maiming and unlawful arrest and detention of innocent youths.

The group made the accusation through its president, Prince Izunna Obiefule while attending a security summit organized by Amnesty International in Enugu State.

At the summit organized to ascertain level of attack and unlawful killings in the southeast region, the Youth leader revealed that, Orsu, Orlu, Oru West and other LGAs within the zone are the most affected by the extra judicial killings.

He said while the atrocities were being meted out on the hapless innocent villagers, government and regular security agencies do not do much to monitor the activities of those vigilante groups, especially those established by the government.

Obiefule urged the authorities to rise and caution the vigilante to stop being reckless and hostile to the villages, adding that such unregulated community policing is very inimical to the already porous insecurity situation in the state.

He urged the government to adequately equip security agencies to enable them combat crime and insecurity to a standstill and restore security, peace and comfort in the state, particularly in Orlu Senatorial Zone.

The Youth leader added that adequate fighting equipment and operational vehicles will strengthen security agencies to be proactive in fighting criminals who he said also use sophisticated arms and ammunition to unleash mayhem on the peoplqe.

Frowning at what he termed unlawful arrest, long detentions, maiming and killing of law-abiding citizens, Obiefule called on government to punish any security agent, Police, Army or Vigilante who goes contrary to the law in the cause of discharging their duties.

“Orlu Senatorial Zone is the worst hit of the insecurity situation in Imo State. The Police and the Judiciary should rise and caution the excesses of some security agents including the vigilante outfits. It is a thing out of place that law-abiding youths are being dehumanized and killed on daily basis in Orlu, Orsu, Oru West and Oru East especially”.

“Security agents should be professional in dealing with the insecurity situation so that innocent people and their property would not be destroyed as violations of human rights in South East have grown beyond control”, he said.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for the swift steps taken in the ongoing investigation into the recent killings in Akinlalu, Ife North Local Government Area of the state.

The governor, in a statement issued on Friday by his Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far by the Nigeria Police in handling the matter.

Governor Adeleke assured the police authorities of his administration’s full cooperation and support towards uncovering the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, adding that justice must prevail.

He reaffirmed his earlier directive for a thorough investigation into the killings and urged all residents and stakeholders to support the process to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

While commiserating with the families of the victims, the governor reiterated his commitment to ensuring that those responsible for the killings face the full wrath of the law, regardless of their social or political standing.

“No one or group, no matter how highly placed or connected, found to be culpable in one way or the other should be spared from facing the full brunt of the law,” Adeleke stated.

He, however, emphasised the need for the investigation to be conducted strictly in line with the rule of law, ensuring fairness and protection of the innocent.

“The police must observe the rule of law throughout the investigation process to guarantee justice and fairness. The innocent must be protected within the bounds of the law,” the governor said.

Adeleke stressed that justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done, without any form of interference or hindrance.

“I will not condone any violation of the law or act of indiscipline and impunity. In this matter, the law must take its course,” the governor added.

He called on all security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Amotekun Security Network, and other law enforcement bodies, to maintain peace and order while the investigation continues.

“Once again, I urge all stakeholders, particularly the police, the DSS, the Amotekun Security Service, and other security agencies to ensure absolute peace and orderliness while the investigation lasts,” Adeleke was quoted as saying.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, says late environmental rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other sons of Ogoniland were wrongly executed by the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995.

Falana, according to Arise News, made this known at the Ken Saro-Wiwa 30th Memorial Lecture held at the Banquet Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Friday.

The Senior lawyer reflected on the crisis that erupted in Ogoniland in the 1990s over environmental devastations caused by the oil exploration activities of Shell Petroleum and Development Company, SPDC.

Speaking on the theme, “Ken Saro-Wiwa -The Man, His Legacies, Struggles and Challenges”, Falana pointed out that the Nigerian State under General Abacha, in its desperation to incriminate Saro-Wiwa and permanently silence him and his group, used its head of task force, Paul Okutimo, to murder four Ogoni chiefs and falsely accused Ken and his men of committing the crime.

“Ken and his comrades did not commit murder, please take it from me. What happened was that the Nigerian State decided, ‘we’re going to deal with MOSOP led by Ken’ and the only way to do it is to allow Shell to continue to exploit your resources, no reaction, no objection, and to charge your leaders for murder.

“The Abacha murderous junta had one Paul Okutimo, the head of task force. Then the Nigerian State got quandary instigated by them, paid by them to kill the four leaders, Kobani and others. It was the Nigerian State that killed them.

“Before any commencement of investigation, Paul Komo, the then military governor, said publicly: ‘We’re going to hold Ken and other MOSOP leaders for the murder that took place in Yogbo. They (Ken and his men) were not there. Their (federal government’s) own boys killed the four leaders. But the governor announced: ‘We’re going to hold (MOSOP) leaders vicariously liable.’ There’s no vicarious liability in criminal offence. If you commit a crime, If you commit an offence, you’re dealt with. You cannot hold me responsible for the alleged offence of my son; that’s not enough but that’s what happened in Ken Saro-Wiwa’s case”, Falana explained