By Jude Atupulazi
A rights group, International Society for Civil Liberty and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has condemned the way the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, handled the alleged kidnappings and raping of Anambra citizens at Ukwulu in the Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state by Fulani herdsmen recently, describing the method as cowardly.
It will be recalled that one Linus Chukwuma and his friend, as well as a woman, her husband and maid, were allegedly separately kidnapped and raped in the Ukwulu Forest.
But reacting to the development in a statement signed by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and others, Intersociety condemned Soludo’s handling of the situation.
The rights group said, ‘The reaction of the Government of Anambra State under Prof Charles Soludo to the abominable and atrocious incident was totally reprehensible, hastily conclusive, criminally judgmental, and primitively cowardly.
‘Apart from being clear evidence of vicarious liability and complicity, it is also a mortal sin against God and unbecoming of a traditional red-cap Governor.
‘The Governor and Government of Anambra State had reacted through the Media Aide to the Gov, Mr. Christian Aburime, by describing the chief victim’s account as “another concocted narrative, void of credibility and mischievously syndicated to paint a scenario of insecurity within the peaceful State”.
‘The most annoying of it all was the Governor’s manifest bias and reliance on widely perceived compromised third parties (traditional throne of Ukwulu and Anambra State Police spokesman’s) accounts as basis for jumping into such hasty conclusion and cowardly reaction.
‘The manifestly biased position of the Government of Anambra State is a clear testament of cover-ups and cowardly handling of life and property of the defenceless citizens of the state.’
Continuing, Intersociety said, ‘It further puts a big question mark on ceaseless massacres of defenceless citizens, using Jihadist Fulani herdsmen and blood thirsty security operatives-both conventional and unconventional.
‘The Governor’s reaction was also laden with fundamental loopholes, including the absence of detailed investigation, reliance on possibly biased or compromised third parties as basis for jumping into hasty conclusion, disregard to family-hood and the victims’ personal dignity; and failure to extend humanitarian services to them; having been abominably battered and sexually abused.
‘The Governor could not even invite and have a fatherly talk with the victim-family. Governor Charles Soludo’s reaction is also tantamount to issuance of license to the Jihadists to abduct, kill, rape, extort and terrorize more defenseless citizens of the state and their property.
‘By the action of the Governor, too, he can sufficiently be accused of aiding and abetting Fulani herdsmen-led jihadism in the state. This is more so when the chief victim’s account is too factual and real to be false or concocted. Her account has also exposed the Government of Anambra State as being too afraid and cowardly to expose and go after the Jihadist Fulani herdsmen and their jihadist atrocities across the state.
The group’s statement further read, ‘It may be correct to say that the fear of Jihadist Fulani herdsmen is the beginning of wisdom for Soludo’s Government. It has become a major security and safety policy direction of the Government of the state under his watch.’