A coalition of civil society groups – the Nigerian Indigenous National Alliance for Self Determination (NINAS) – has urged the United States of America (US), Britain and the European Union (EU) to discontinue further sale of arms to the Nigerian government, alleging that they are largely deployed to undermine democracy and abuse of human rights of the citizens.
The group alleged that previous arms sold to the Federal Government with borrowed funds have found their way into the hands of killer herdsmen, bandits, Boko Haram terrorists, ISIS fighters and other criminals terrorising the South and Middle Belt regions.
The communications manager of NINAS, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, accused the Federal government of abuse of human rights, saying opposition voices are now being arrested and detained for demanding good governance.
According to the statement, the signatories who wrote the petition to the US, UK and EU include Prof. Banji Akintoye, former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo; Yusuf Turaki, Secretary General of NINAS, Tony Nnadi and pioneer commissioner for Education in Osun State and National Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Wale Adeniran.
“We, the people of the South and Middle Belt under the aegis of NINAS, call on you to sanction the government of Nigeria for undermining democratic ethics and abusing people’s rights to live; to own property; to liberty; to dignity; to peaceful assembly and to self-determination.