To critically examine worsening security situation in the South-East and propose workable solutions, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, in partnership with Action Group on Free Civic Space, AGFCS, has organized “Southeast Peace Summit and Public Hearing on Insecurity, Crime and Human Rights Violations at Awka, Anambra State Capital.
The event had eminent jurists, experts in human rights law, members of the civil society from Southeast states, as well as media practitioners in attendance, and featured testimonies from victims and witnesses of insecurity and human rights violations.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, RULAAC, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, explained that with the testimonies by the victims and witnesses, concerned stakeholders can assist the most vulnerable and the most affected to seek legal redress, as well as advocate and push for urgent action to pull the zone out of the quagmire.
He regretted that instead of using stakeholders’ engagement and dialogue to address the underlining factors motivating separatist agitation, federal government resorted to brutal repression, which consequently radicalized the once unarmed group; leading to devastating impacts on socio-economic and political development, livelihoods, wellbeing and civic freedoms.
Mr. Nwanguma, who described the routine sit-at-home being observed in the Southeast as senseless and regretted that the order from non-state actors has ruined the economy of the zone and worsened the plight of the toiling people; most of whom depend on daily earnings.
RULAAC however commend Anambra State Government on the establishment of bureau of missing persons, calling on other states to emulate.
Earlier in his keynote speech, a human rights lawyer, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, called for conscious efforts to rebuild the Southeast for sustainable development.
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