Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation [HJRPF]
565 Pine Street, Brooklyn, New York, USA
E-mail: hrjpfoundation@yahoo.com
www.hrjpf.org
+1 646 204 3693
 
January 28, 2009
 
PRESS RELEASE

 
HRJPF PLANS PROTEST MARCH AGAINST BAKASSI BOYS

Preamble

On August 5, 2005, 32 out of 37 innocent people (including market traders, motor mechanics, commercial drivers, bus conductors, etc) abducted, tortured with barbed wires/machetes, and detained in a dark and unventilated 12 x 12 dungeon by the Abia State Vigilante Services popularly known as the Bakassi boys, a militia group of the state government, suffocated to death in mysterious circumstances at Orie Ohabiam Electronic Market, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.
 
After the callous spilling of the precious blood of the 32 innocent people, hereinafter referred to as Orie Ohabiam 32, the Abia State Government attempted to sweep the matter under the carpet but failed owing to the media attention the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation [HRJPF] and other well meaning Abia people drew to it.
 
In order to exonerate itself from blame, the Abia State Government constituted a panel to "probe" the circumstances surrounding the mysterious deaths of the Orie Ohabiam 32, as opposed to calls by the HRJPF and other well meaning Abia people on the Federal Government to set up a panel. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Abia people money were expended on this futile exercise.
 
But three years later, the report of the panel has not seen the light of the day, thus vindicating the HRJPF¢s stand that the panel was not only constituted to divert public attention from the culpability of agents of the Abia State Government but also to exculpate them from blame.
 
While the sacred bloods of the Orie Ohabiam 32 are still crying for justice, Governor T. A. Orji has surrendered the security of the state to the perpetrators of this crime against humanity. In full glare of the public, the kill and burn suspected petty thieves/robbers, contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which presumes accused persons innocent, until found guilty by a competent court of law. Governor Orji also uses this terrorist gang to overawe and intimidate his real and
imaginary foes.

Realizing that until the Orie Ohabiam 32 are pacified by identifying and bringing to book their killers, there ghosts will continue to hover over Abia and other neighboring states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with anger; and considering that Governor Orji has sworn over his dead body not to release the report of the panel constituted by the Abia State Government, the HRJPF is planning to hold a protest march in the United States.

advertisement

Venue: United Nations office, New York, United States
 
Date: February 5, 2009
 
Time: 12.00 noon prompt.
 
Objectives of the protest march:
 
1) To internationalize the extra-judicial killings of innocent citizens of Abia State of Nigeria by the Abia State Vigilante Services, aka, Bakassi boys;
 
2) To internationalize the need for the United Nations to prevail on President Yar¢adua to release the report of the Presidential Panel of Inquiry into the Orie Ohabiam Massacre, following the failure of the Abia State Government to release its reports; and
 
3) To internationalize the sponsorship of terrorism by the Abia State Government of Nigeria. 
 
Who should participate?
 
The protest march is open to anybody or group that is vehemently opposed to extra-judicial killings, death penalties, terrorism and other ills constituting threats to world peace. Intending participants are expected to contact via email: hrjpfoundation@yahoo.com ; or phone: +1 646 204 3693
 
Mode of dressing
 
Every participant is expected to dress in black t-shirt and or wear black band, as a form of solidarity to the cause the HRJPF is fighting.
 
 
Comrade Chidi Nwosu
President

	advertisement