The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for full accountability for the series of arson attacks on Local Government Area (LGA) Secretariat in Rivers State.
This comes as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry nears the end of its investigation.
Naija News recalls that the Judiciary Committee chaired; Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri was installed by Governor Siminalai Hubara with the specific mandate of investigating murders, arson and destruction of municipal property and submitting a comprehensive report.
The seven-member committee was given one month to complete its investigation and submit its recommendations.
In a statement by Huliwa National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, Huliwa noted that the attack, which occurred shortly after successful local government elections, posed a serious threat to the democratic process.
Mr Huliwa criticized the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the security lapses that facilitated the attack, saying that shortly before and on the day the newly elected council official was sworn in, police security was removed from the affected local authorities for no reason. He denounced the withdrawal.
The group said the act was a gross dereliction of duty and created a security gap that emboldened those responsible for the violence.
The group called the security withdrawal a “disgraceful and unconstitutional act” and warned that this dereliction of democratic responsibility would be a stain on the current IGP’s legacy.
Mr Huliwa stressed that Nigerians expect a fair and impartial report from the commission.
The association expressed confidence that the judicial commission, under the leadership of Judge Minakiri, “will meet the public’s expectations by providing a detailed explanation of the circumstances of the attack.”
“HURIWA expects that the panel’s findings will shed light on the motives behind the violence.
“The people of Rivers State, and in fact all Nigerians, have a right to know the truth,” Huliwa said.
