The North East Patriots Forum (NEPF) says there is a political undertone in the killing of farmers at Zarbamari community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.  

Contrary to reports, the group said the dastardly act may not have been committed by Boko Haram terrorists, rather aggrieved opposition politicians in Borno. 

The forum, which made this known at a press conference on Monday, said the killings could be linked to the first local government elections in the state after 13 years. 

Speaking on behalf of the group, Secretary-General, Alhaji Isah Bulama, said opposition members on sensing imminent defeat at the polls, resorted to unorthodox means to scuttle the exercise. 

While condemning the barbaric act, the North-East forum called on relevant security authorities to swiftly unravel those behind it. 

It, however, handed a 14-day ultimatum to security operatives to arrest the killers and bring them to justice. 

Read the full statement below: 

The leadership of the North East Patriots Forum welcomes all stakeholders to the important press conference in the light of the dastardly act of violence carried out on farmers in Zarbamari village in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

We condemn such barbaric act in its entirety and wish to extend our condolences to the people of Jere Local Government Area and Borno State at large. We must admit that these are indeed trying times in the North East region of the country especially with the threats posed by the Boko Haram terrorist group that has seen to the death of thousands as well as the displacement of millions of people in the North East region.

The North East Patriots Forum is desirous that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought the face the full wrath of the law within the shortest possible time.

We are indeed shocked with the way and manner young and agile men were slaughtered by the supposed Boko Haram members while tiling their farmland in Zarbamari community which has been hitherto one of the most peaceful local government areas since the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.

It is also very shocking that Jere Local Government has never been in the news due to the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group and for this dastardly act to be committed leaves `more to the imagination. 

The way and manner these farmers were killed are also suspect in the sense that since the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East Nigeria, the group has not been known for slitting throats and beheading farmers as evident in Zarbamari recently. 

We are also constrained to ask some critical questions with regards to the killings in Zarbamari because as critical stakeholders, we are not aware of farming activities in Zarbamari in this time of the year and rice cultivation as such. We are also constrained to ask why such a large number of people would elect to gather at a location without any form of protection either at the community level or from the security agencies.

We also beg to ask what was the prevailing political atmosphere in Jere Local Government before the killings. Were those killed members of a political party or ethnicity? Was there prior violence in the area before the killings? Who are the leading contenders in the conducted local government elections in Jere Local Government Area? 

All of these questions require answers if Nigerians indeed want to know the truth about what transpired at Zarbamari village in Jere Local Government Area. As concerned stakeholders in the region, we can say to a large extent that we understand the dynamics of Borno State and Jere Local Government Area to be precise. It is consequently hard to believe that indeed the killings were perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group.  

We have our reservations and which is heightened by the fact that the killings coincided with the recently conducted local government elections in Borno State after 13 years. We are also constrained to want to believe that the killings in Zarbamari have political undertones with the way and manner the victims were executed, which by all indication was to send a strong message to an individual or a group.  

Nigerians must indeed be aware that Zarbamari community in Jere Local Government Area is not one that has experienced much of Boko Haram attacks since the beginning of the insurgency. It, therefore, beats our imaginations as to why such would happen when the Boko Haram group has been decimated. Their activities confined to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region, which is hundreds of miles from Jere Local Government Area.

The North East Patriots Forum believes that the killings in Zarbamari community are nothing but a political event that is aimed towards scuttling the conduct of local government elections in the state. And the perpetrators are most likely the members of the opposition that apparently do not stand a chance at the polls in the local government area and hence they must do all within their means including unorthodox means to scuttle the peace and tranquillity in Borno State.  

The North East Patriots Forum is also aware that the real intention behind the killing of the farmers in Zarbamari is for political expediencies and not an attack by the Boko Haram terrorist group as widely alleged. 

We are using this medium to call on the relevant security agencies to as a matter of urgency unravel those behind the dastardly act that was committed in Zarbamari. We are also giving the various security agencies a 14 days ultimatum to arrest the killers of these innocent people and bring them to justice. 

We must also expressly state that human life is dignifying. As such, no individual or group should denigrate human life for political considerations as in the case with the killings in Zarbamari. 

It is our firm stance that nobody should take Nigeria and Nigerians for granted or play politics with the blood of innocent citizens. This is indeed despicable and must be condemned by all and sundry. 

The North East Patriots Forum is indeed watching events as they unfold in Borno State with regards to the local government elections and states that should there be further escalation of violence, the blame should go to members of the opposition in the state which by all intents and purposes are not happy with the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum for having the boldness to conduct LG elections. 

Whatever be the case, it must be expressly noted that the Boko Haram terror group could not have carried out the recent killings in Zarbamari but instead a politically sponsored killings which are as a result of the recently conducted local government elections in the state.

There are indeed puzzles behind the Zarbamari killings. We thank you all for your time. 

The Lagos state government and Amnesty International, AI, have been warned to allow the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up to probe the allegation of brutality against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos state to work without any form of interference.

A civil society organisation, Advocates For Social Justice, at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, warned the Lagos government and the rights group against subversion of truth before the commission.

Mr. Agwu Gabriel Esq., Executive Director of the group said it is alarmed that a delegation from Lagos State Government is in London for a meeting with Amnesty International to exonerate Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, on the deployment of the military to manage the #EndSARS protest at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

The group alleged that Amnesty International is at the forefront of the campaign of calumny being waged against the Nigerian military .

The Executive Director said, ”The #EndSARS protests turned violent on the strength of its engineered interventions and campaign of fake news in which it triggered the misplaced outrage about a massacre that never happened.

”To have a sense of how badly Amnesty International lied against Nigeria and its military, Cable News Network (CNN) has walked back its claim of 38 fatalities from the Lekki Toll Gate incident because its report was based on the lies told by the NGO. Nigerians had risen up against the lies prompting the network to recant its flawed reporting.

”Amnesty International lies had been exposed long before CNN was forced to make a volte face. When its Country Director, Osai Ojigho went on Arise TV to continue the offensive against Nigeria but could not provide evidence to support her organization’s claim that the military massacred protesters in Lekki. All she could provide was the lame quip that the military has a tradition of killing people and taking their corpses away, which is another lie that Amnesty International has replicated and elevated to the level of a myth”.

The group said Ojigho, representing her organization, went as far as riding the coattails of a proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to go testify against the Nigerian government and military in support of a terrorist organization.

On the proccedings before the Unitd Kingdom Parliament on the Lekki incident in Lagos, Mr. Gabriel described it as a rehash of the proceedings of the Canadian Parliamentary committee, which can best be described as a charade.

”Again, the UK Parliamentary show of shame was brokered by Amnesty International, which possibly still thinks that the Britain can resume being Nigeria’s colonial master if its staff lie enough about human rights abuses allegedly committed by the Nigerian Army or other security agencies.

”This and much more is public knowledge about Amnesty International and the poisonous branding it is carrying out on Nigeria. It is something that right thinking Nigerians have been clamouring to bring an end about. They see the NGO for the monster it is and they have not stopped drawing attention to the danger that this organization poses to the country.

”Unfortunately, Lagos state is neither reading the national mood correctly nor properly evaluating the facts before it. The people around Governor Sanwoolu are apparently still addicted to being inferior in the face of a foreign-based NGO that has the reputation of sowing discord and crisis around the world, one that has made it a permanent goal to bring Nigeria into ruins.

”Interestingly, one of the ways Amnesty International attempts to undermine Nigeria is by casting aspersions on the institutions of the country. It has persistently targeted the military and security establishments with this approach. It has equally added other institutions like the judiciary. Its latest target is logically the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry”, the group said.

The group called on the Lagos state government to immediately stops further interface, interaction and contact with Amnesty International in Nigeria, United Kingdom and in any other country of the world.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has an existence, secret sponsorship and operation of a terrorist organisation in the southern part of the country. 

CESJET, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ikpa Isaac, fingered another group, InterSociety for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, to be behind the sect. 

The centre said it came to this conclusion after “a thorough forensic investigation conducted by a team of experts.”

According to Ikpa, the group, in alliance with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) aims to plunge Nigeria into a crisis and bloodshed potent enough to compromise national security.

CESJET alleged that with external sponsorship, the new group has expanded unimaginably in the last few months, consistently recruiting new members. 

The centre also accused the group of being behind the violent bloodshed and arsons in Oyigbo in Rivers State. 

It, however, charged the police, the DSS and all other relevant security agencies to keep an eye on Intersociety operations and IPOB Code members in the South. 

The centre further urged Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to sustain his vigilance on the sect to protect lives and property. 

Read the full statement below:

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) deems it expedient to alert Nigerians and security agencies in the country on the existence, secret sponsorship and operation of a terrorist’s organization in the Southern part of the country, especially between the Abia and Rivers state axis by the InterSociety for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law.  

Albeit, whilst InterSociety operates under the banner and nomenclature of a human rights advocacy group. But on the contrary and in absolute discord with its publicized agenda, the group is an assemblage of persons supporting and promoting armed criminals, dubious elements, and questionable characters, which are actively plotting to cause anarchy and destabilize Nigeria.    

A detailed forensic investigation conducted by a team of experts from CESJET incredibly discovered InterSociety’s alleged secret links and connections with some aberrant groups in Nigeria. These are grouped in connivance with external forces have nursed the evergreen agenda to ginger its members to plunge Nigeria into an overwhelming crisis and bloodshed potent enough to compromise national security.

InterSociety allegedly has a strong bond with IPOB, the proscribed or outlawed terrorists’ organization formerly run by its escapee leader, Nnamdi Kanu. This group launched bloody secession campaigners, indulged in extra-judicial killings, acts of vandalism, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and other violent crimes. It compelled the Southeast State Governments to proscribe it and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to declare it a terrorist’s organization. The decision was further rectified by a competent court.

But in an unexpected asinine twist, InterSociety has suspected and clandestinely revived, energized and armed members of the defunct IPOB. The sponsors of the resurgent IPOB have also slightly modified its name, which is now called “IPOB Code.”  The armed criminal gangs of the new group, IPOB Code are also predominantly found in Southeast states; but in the bid to divert attention, most of them have now migrated to Oyigbo community in Rivers state.    

CESJET obtained from reliable sources that the regrouped members under IPOB Code have stockpiled large caches of arms and ammunitions in Obigbo. And from this position of criminal strength, IPOB Code members intermittently harass, intimidate and threaten innocent and law-abiding citizens aimed at their forceful conversion into the sect to further boost their numerical strength. Many have been their victims.

And with consistent financing of the activities of IPOB Code by InterSociety, which is also supported with funds from external sponsors, the new group has expanded unimaginably in the last few months. Nonetheless, the recruitment drive and its obnoxious operations have intensified to a frightening level, compelling Rivers State Governor Nyemsom Wike to issue repeated public warnings against their criminal activities in the state.

In the last couple of months, IPOB Code armed gangs have consistently terrorized Obigbo residents by instigating and promoting deadly cult clashes. Many have lost their lives in the process and it has marked Oyigbo as the most deadly and hottest spot of cult clashes in Rivers state.  

Accordingly, when #EndSARS protests birthed and rocked some states in Nigeria, particularly in the Southern part of the country, the IPOB Code members seized the opportunity to exercise their murderous and terror instincts on people in the guise of protesting police brutality.

The armed criminal gangs, concealed by the #EndSARS demonstrations violently unleashed baffling bloodshed and arsons on people and public properties.  IPOB Code members gruesomely murdered scores of civilians, police officers; torched several police stations at different spots and also, horrifically killed six soldiers deployed to maintain public peace and security in the wake of the raging #EndSARS protests.

In a barbaric fashion, the masterminds videoed these murderous acts and celebratedly syndicated it on social media. Thereafter, InterSociety, which also serves as the intellectual and media arm of IPOB Code has launched determined and venomous propaganda against the Rivers State Governor and the Nigerian Army in the desperation to change the narrative in their favour.    

A desperate InterSociety in the bid to seek public attention have coined bogus claims and fabricated narratives. The IPOB Code sponsors are claiming soldiers in connivance with Gov. Wike have sponsored massacres and abductions in Oyigbo merely to attract public empathy and draw the attention of the international community as façade to cover-up the perpetrated evil and crimes.

But Gov. Wike who is the Chief Security officer of the state has repeatedly debunked their claims of deaths in Obigbo. The Governor has neither faulted the operations of solders in the state in manner nor linked the Army to any alleged abductions as claimed by IPOB Code propaganda instrument-InterSociety.

Having realized, it is chasing an empty whirlwind, and determined to make their story convincing to the ears, InterSociety infused it with the ethnic cleansing card and religious extermination agenda. The glaring attempts to disfigure reality is further weakened their inconsistent and conflicting expositions. If based on Intersociety claims of an ethnic and religious agenda pursued by a Muslim /Fulani Army; why is the same Army from the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt overseeing Rivers state led by a Southwesterner?  

Also, to frighten Gov. Wike and divert attention from their atrocious acts, IPOB Code members had earlier accused him of ingratitude. They claimed the Governor rewarding their electoral support to him with chasing them out of Oyigbo and Rivers state. It was a ploy to distract Gov. Wike’s attention from focusing on the atrocious acts.       
But InterSociety should be adequately informed that it’s behind the scenes satanic resurrection of the defunct IPOB is known by the relevant security agencies. Its identity as sponsors, think-tank and media propagandists for IPOB Code is no longer hidden now. Even the composition of its principal officers has betrayed it as a congregation of members of the defunct IPOB ever willing to unleash mayhem on any part of Nigeria.  

CESJET is, therefore, calling on the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and all other relevant security agencies to keep an eagle eye on the operations of  InterSociety and IPOB Code members in the South. They could probably be building an amazing network of adherents discreetly to the detriment of public peace and security.

Gov. Wike who is the Chief Security Officer of the state must necessarily sustain his vigilance on the sect to protect lives and property. Or else,  and quite undeniably, members of IPOB Code are fully prepared and armed to plunge the state into unimaginable violence and bloodshed, anytime soon.