By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged its leader Nnamdi Kanu is being subjected to psychological trauma and torture in the confinement of the Department of State Services ( DSS) in Abuja.
The group accused the DSS of continuously flouting and violating the existing court orders by Justice Binta Nyako concerning Kanu.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, IPOB warned it would not accept any “stage-managed” attack by DSS agents targeted at its leader.
The statement partly reads: “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to reiterate our displeasure once again over the deliberate, permanent and insidious psychological torture being committed against our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in contravention of UNHRC and all other International Human Rights laws and principles in DSS confinement and torture facilities.
“There abound obvious and utter disregard by DSS on the existing laws and thereby consistently flouting the court ruling that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deserves an interface with fellow human. Solitary confinement is a torture under UN Law. Justice Binta made a court order that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be visited twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays by his lawyers, family members and visitors of his choice.
“We want to make it known to all and sundry that our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is now being allowed to see his visitors for only 30 minutes in contravention of the competent court order that approved two hours per visit by his lawyers and family members.
“We want to remind DSS of their required obligations some of which are to abide by stipulated Court Orders and procedures in handling all matters associated with Our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu so as to minimise unforseen circumstantial consequences should anything go wrong.
“We are making a public call and open invitation to the International Community, Amnesty International, Embassies, Governments, Intersociety and NGOs including all reputable Human Rights Organisations to monitor the gross violation of all known fundamental human rights of the Leader of IPOB and all other illegally incarcerated IPOB members in Nigeria.
” It’s no doubt that Biafrans especially Igbo race and their religious worshippers are racially profiled and discriminated against in Nigeria by DSS. That’s is why notorious terrorists and bandits from the North can kill and commits all sorts of crimes and never get arrested but innocent and unarmed Biafrans especially Igbos including old men and women are indiscriminately arrested, tortured, incarcerated and disappear without trace by this lawless DSS and their sister security agents.
“The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols of 8 June 1977 contain a number of provisions that absolutely prohibits torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment that DSS mated on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other individuals especially IPOB members.
“May we reemphasize that we’ll not accept any stage-managed attack by DSS agents targeted at Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we have earlier pointed out such stunt upon reception of Intel by M-Branch.”
Credit: City Post