ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has filed a formal communication with the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC), against Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State over the killings of its members in Obigbo in 2020.
The petition, obtained from one of the IPOB’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor’s Twitter handle, was filed by Bruce Fein, international lawyer and spokesman for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB.
The petition was addressed to the ICC Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan, Information and Evidenced Unit, Office of the Prosecutor, Post Office Box 19519, 2500, CM The Hague, The Netherlands.
In the submission dated 28 September, 2022, Fein asked the ICC to charge Governor Wike with genocide and crimes against humanity against Biafrans.
The lawyer’s submission reads: “Submission of Bruce Fein, international lawyer and spokesman for Nnamdi Kanu, leader, Indigenous People of Biafra charging Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of Rivers State Nigeria with conspiracy, genocide, and crimes against humanity against Biafrans by knowing participation in protracted and systematic murder, extermination, starvation, denial of necessary medical care and shelter, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, rape, theft, and persecution based on political opinion, religion, or ethnicity.”
Recall that Obigbo, a major Igbo settlement in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State was in the news for negative reasons during the #EndSARS protests that were hijacked by hoodlums.
This, according to claims, was because some Igbo youths said to be IPOB members allegedly clashed with youths from the north, including Hausas and Fulanis, a situation that degenerated to a worrisome level, compelling Governor Wike to make a broadcast outlawing IPOB in the state.
Governor Wike also imposed curfew on the entire Oyigbo council area.
He went ahead to place a N50 million Naira bounty on the head of the leader of IPOB in the area.
And in a counter move, the leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu also placed double that amount on Governor Wike’s head.
Following Wike’s broadcast, soldiers moved into the community with allegations of killings; tortures and destruction trailing the soldiers entrance.
The soldiers were also alleged to have gone from house to house in search of Igbo youths who were branded IPOB members.
The development attracted the attention of international and local civil societies, who equally raised alarm over the gory pictures being seen on the social media.
However, Governor Wike, who was being fingered as inviting the solders said to be wreaking havoc, denied it, saying he never invited any soldier to kill any Igbo man or any person.