A human rights organisation, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has given a chilling revelation of how Nigerian security agencies arrested no fewer than 300 Igbo women and labelled them “Biafra members”.
Then 150 of them were allegedly tortured and detained for over 18 months without trial.
The organisation identified the Nigerian Army, police and secret police Department of State Services (DSS) as the lead security agencies perpetrating the atrocities against the civilian population of South-East Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Intersociety disclosed this in a report titled: “In Two Years (Oct 2020-Oct 2022) Army, Police, Others Arrested 150 Defenseless Women In The East, Falsely Labeled Them ‘Biafra Members,’ Tortured And Degraded Them For Six Months To 18 Months Without Trial Or Securing A Single Conviction.”
The report was signed by its principal officers – Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chidinma Udegbunam, Chinwe Umeche and Obianuju Joy Igboeli.
Intersociety, however, noted that “general speaking, not less than 300 defenseless women have been arrested in connection with false ‘Biafra Membership’ accusation,” adding that of this number; “no fewer than 150 were brutally tortured and degraded and others paid through the nose to secure their freedom.”
“It noted that among the worst affected 150, scores have momentarily or permanently disappeared, accusing the police, army and DSS officers as responsible for the enforced disappearance.
“The dignity of womanhood and sanctity of life and civil liberties of the affected women have egregiously and grisly been targeted for abuse and violence by the country’s crude and barbarous security forces. This is to the extent of attacking and abducting women in labor and newly delivered nursing mothers,” Intersociety disclosed.
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