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23.April 1999

Dear Viraj Mendis,

Thank you for your letter concerning Theophilus O. Emiowele’s case. I have gone through your letter and particularly depressed about the attitude of the German Authority in handling the serious and sensitive case.

It is also important to put the record straight particularly in respect of the political situation in Nigeria vis-à-vis the misinformation about Nigeria human rights situation in Europe and other Western Nations.

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) and other pro-democracy organisations in Nigeria have always maintained that the military can not midwife true and genuine democracy. Even though we have had elections - right from local government to the presidency - nobody except the military has seen our new constitution. One can therefore see trouble ahead when it is eventually released.

So, we are not surprised at the emergence of another ex-military dictator Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo at the poll. We are convinced that only the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and the restructuring of Nigeria would solve this age long political logjam.

After 40 years of environmental pollution, poisoned water, polluted land, incessant gas flaring (the single largest gas flaring in the world occurs in Nigeria), and with total neglect of the people, no electricity, health care or other basic services and infrastructures in their communities, the Ijaw Youths mobilized against the oil companies – Shell, Chevron, Mobil, Texaco and others that have been operating behind the protective shield of the Nigerian Government last year. Just like the Ogoni massacre during the infamous and Satanic regime of the maximum dictator Late Gen. Sani Abacha when the late environmental activist Ken. Saro-Wiwa and his Ogoni Kinsmen were hanged for demanding for their rights as contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, the Ijaw demanded their rights to clean air, water, land and compensation, the right to peaceful protest.

The crisis in Ijaw land started sometimes in 1998 before the demise of the late dictator Gen. Sani Abacha. The Ijaw leaders had constituted themselves into a broad based organisation of Ijaw National Development and Welfare Organisation (INADEWO).

By January 1^st, 1998 INADEWO made a 4 point demand from the Federal Military Govt. i.e. provision of Electricity, roads, water and Telecommunication in all Ijaw Towns and Villages and a 3-month ultimatum was issued within which if the demands are not met INADWO shall do everything possible within the framework of the law to press for these demands.

At the expiration of the ultimatum and before INADEWO could strike, two prominent leaders of the organisation were arrested, they are: Chief Barrister R. E. NIWARE, the National Deputy leader and Dr. Debabode, the Director publicity, information and planning. Dr. Debabode was ordered to be killed by Late Gen. Abacha but narrowly escaped it.

While INADEWO was still making consultation with the people in the villages and towns in Ijaw land, some members of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) who had earlier been co-opted into the INADEWO were alleged to have betrayed the course by giving out some documents considered to be sensitive to the organisations. It was at this point that Gen. Sani Abacha died and the tempo of the struggle changed.

It is against this backdrop and the betrayal of trust that angered the Ijaw Youths.

On December 11, the Ijaw Youths drawn from over five hundred communities from over 40 clans that make up the Ijaw nation and representing 25 representative organisations converged at the historical town of Kaiama in Bayelsa State to deliberate on the best way that will bring about peaceful resolution of the protracted problem, which culminated in Kaiama Declaration. The Ijaw Youth, after exhaustive deliberation issued a 20-day ultimatum to the Gen. Abdul-Salami Abubakar’s administration and the multinational companies to extinguish their flares and leave the Delta by midnight, December 30, or warned they would shut down the oilfields "i.e. operation climate change" as the first step to press for their demands as contained in the declaration.

Among the demands of the" Kaiama declaration of last December is the control of the mineral resources of Ijaw land by the people themselves.

Expectedly, just like his predecessor, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar declared war on the people by deploying soldiers, war ships and armoured tanks to the area. Over 50 innocent and defenseless citizens in the villages and in Yenagoa including the traditional rulers of Kaiama and Opia were killed while several others were wounded. Houses and properties were looted and burnt by the soldiers.

On December 30, the Military administrator of Bayelsa State, Lt. Col. Paul Obi, declared a state of emergency, suspending all civil liberties and imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the entire state. The military administrator singled out the Ijaw Youths – Chicoco (the Pan-Niger Delta rights movement), Ijaw Youths Council and the Egbesu Boys of Africa – for unspecified punishment.

Though the state of emergency has been lifted, the Ijaw land is still heavily militarised. It remains unlawful to peacefully assemble in the Niger Delta.

At the end of the massive killings, maiming and raping of Ijaw people, a mourning period was declared by Ijaw National Development and Welfare Organisation which expired on February 28, 1999. Even before the end of the mourning period on the same month of February, two communities, Ekian and Opia were heavily bombed by the security agents with Chevron helicopter (a multinational Company) leaving several people dead including women and children.

Two weeks after this attack, Bishop Bienbo, the National leader of INADEWO and four others were arrested on their way to Ekian to investigate the killing and bombing of these communities.

At the moment, Military occupation is still noticeable all over Ijaw land with incessant harassment and intimidation of the defenseless inhabitants.

Members of Odua Peoples Congress have had a running battle with the security forces of General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s Junta in the past few months.

The Congress, a brain child of a human rights activist and medical practitioner, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun was put in place in later part of 1995 as a Pan-Yoruba Socio-Cultural Organisation to protect, defend and promote Yoruba Cultural Values and more importantly to peacefully protect Yoruba interest in the context of Nigeria Federation.

The OPC since its inception and in conjunction with other pro-democracy and human rights bodies has been involved in the struggle for the termination of the military rule, the restructuring of Nigeria and the agitation for the convocation of Sovereign National Conference and self determination. OPC is made up of mostly Yorubas within the age bracket of 25 – 35, market women, professionals, students, artisans; etc..

The organisation came on board and to join forces with other existing ethnic organisations as a resultant effect of continued oppression and suppression by the Hausa-Fulani Military Oligarchy as expressed in the annulment and subsequent murder of Chief M. K. O. Abiola the custodian of June 12 Presidential Election, Late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Pa Alfred Rewane, Ken Saro-Wiwa among others.

The Agitation for self – determination and the restructuring of the lopsided federation has been the major focus of the group. They have participated in various peaceful protests and demonstrations with similar groups during the erstwhile dictator Late Gen. Sani Abacha.

The organisation which has its largest membership and head office in Mushin Area of Lagos State, precisely, No. 40 Araromi Street, off Layi Oyekan, Mushin – Lagos and which has spread to all parts of the Yorubaland has been holding rallies weekly meetings and peaceful processions, educating its numerous members on various issues ranging from the historical background and cultural values of the Yorubas which has been on the decadence.

The security agents called Operation Sweep which was established by the Lagos State Government to curb the wave of armed robbery attack in Lagos metropolis had at various times disrupted and intimidated the group at their weekly meetings.

The State Government through the Commissioner of Police defended its men saying the organisation is out to disrupt the transition to civil rule programme which was openly refuted by the National coordinator of the group Dr. Fredrick Fasheun.

This cat and mouse game got to the peak on November 2, 1998 when the coordinator of the group (OPC) Shomolu Chapter, Mr. Kola Arowosafe and 4 (Four) others were stabbed to death by the soldiers during their regular weekly meetings.

Few days later, November 10, battle-ready men of the notorious killer-squad, Operation Sweep moved in to mushin the home base of the organisation with about 30 military trucks, jeeps and armoured tanks invaded the venue of the organisation’s meeting. On this fateful day, no fewer than eight (8) people were shot dead and their bodies taken away by the Police, and several others were injured.

In the same vein, the police scooped at the militant wing of the organisation on March 1 and 2, living several people dead. In this ensued clash, two police stations were burnt. About twenty (20) people were arrested and are still languishing in police cell.

Other Yoruba activists belonging to different pan-yoruba organisations were not left out. For instance, on March 4, 1999, an attempt was made to assassinate the co-ordinator of Oo’dua Youth Movement, Mr. Abiodun Aremu. At about 10.00 p.m; about 20 vehicles loaded with men of the Operation Sweep besieged his apartment. Their mission was to exterminate his life, but by sheer luck, he escaped it. The wife who was carrying 8 months pregnancy was thoroughly beaten up and his properties vandalized.

The recent onslaught on the OPC and other Pan-Yoruba Organisations is a ploy to silence/cow all Yoruba activists. Only last Thursday 1^st of April, 1999, over twenty (20) members of the organisation were shot dead in Okitipupa, Ondo State in an ensued violence between the group and the police.

On the Human Rights situation in Nigeria, though, recently, people convicted for 1990, 1995 and 1997 made-up coups have been released, there are several reported cases of abuses all over the land. On Monday, February 1, 1999, Mr. Femi Ojodu the Managing Editor of the News Magazine and two other staffers were arrested over the publications titled "ABACHA CO-LOOTERS" and about 80,000 copies of that Edition were seized.

Only about three weeks ago, precisely on March 10, 1999, the Federal Military Government announced the removal as the Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Corps Marshall Major Gen. Anthony Hananiya (rtd.) for obeying court order over the FRSC – Police merger debacle.

Thank you.

On Wednesday, the 14^th April 1999, about (22) Twenty two people including members of the Congress were killed in another violence that erupted in Ketu, outskirts of Lagos when Kosofe Local Government officials and the security men "Operation Sweep" tried to forcefully evict the traders at the Ketu market.

The incident which paralysed commercial activities at Ketu and mile 12 areas also led to the arrest of about 13 persons.

The Lagos State Police Command through its Zonal Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi confirmed that only seven persons were killed as against 22 people announced by the Market Advisory Committee. According to the Committee 12 people died on the spot in a sporadic and indiscriminate shooting by the police and the remaining ten (10) died later as a result of injuries sustained from gun shorts.

In the same manner, Seven (7) persons suspected to be members of the group (OPC) were arrested in Akinyele Street, Agege, Lagos on Thursday 15^th April, 1999. The police claimed they were arrested because Akinyele Street where the arrests were made is regarded as a meeting point for the criminals.

The days of February 24, 25 and 26, 1999 witnessed yet another violent clash between the two communities of Aroikpa and Akawe-Nneato in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

The Akawa-Nneato community head allegedly attacked the Aroikpa community over the autonomy recently granted the Aroikpa by the Abia State Government having challenged same in law court and lost. In the ensued violence, deaths were recorded, people maimed and properties destroyed.

Also in Bassa Local Council of Plateau State, over 1000 Fulani cattle rearrers were on Saturday April 3, 1999 displaced in a mayhem between the Fulani herdsmen and the Miango people who are predominantly farmers in the Miango village.

Trouble was said to have started when a Fulani Cattle rearrer herded his cattle on the farm of a Miango and destroyed his crops.

Also on the same day, April 3, 1999, a violent clash erupted between the Umuleri and Aguleri communities in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State which led to the loss of dozens of lives which include a journalist and several houses razed.

It all started during the burial ceremony of Chief Mike Edozie, the former Local Government Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Council when some gunmen from Umuleri allegedly stormed the place while the program was in progress and attempted to abduct the body of Chief Edozie. In the process, they shot into the mourning crowd but were strongly resisted. This led to the forces between the two communities heading to the loss of may lives.

Another fracas broke out in Ijebu-Ode, in Ogun State on Easter Monday, 5^th April 1999, when a soldier in mufti was mistaken for a thief, lynched and burnt.

The soldier, identified as Umar, a private, who was attached to the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps, Ilese Sappers Barracks allegedly visited a popular brothel at Ita-osun in Ijebu-ode. After allegedly sleeping with a woman of easy virtue, he was said to have refused to pay. The quarrel that ensured between the soldier and his woman continued as all entreaties to make the soldier pay for the service rendered him failed. Visibly aggrieved and obviously to humiliate him, the woman shouted ole! Meaning (thief!). The people of this community who has been under the menac of the armed bandits could not wait to verify the identify of the man as they pounced on him, got him burnt. This culminated to a full-scale battle as the soldiers reinforced in their hundreds rampaging and unleashing terror on the innocent people and the popular commercial motorcyclists. Altogether about Ninety (90) person was arrested, and properties worth million of naira were destroyed in the combine team of police and soldiers.

About (100) one hundreds souls were lost on Thursday, 1^st of April 1999 in a boat mishap along the Port Harcourt - Nembe route, in which a double - Decker passenger boat ran aground. The boat which carried an estimated 300 passengers had about 200 survivors. 36 bodies have so far been recovered.

Sincerely Beko