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Press Release Contact: Africans In America, Inc. Statement on: Nigerian Police Assault on Catholic Holy Mass and Threat to Kill 30 Priests at Nnobi Palace
New York: February 28, 2009–Following reports on illegal and barbaric conduct of officers of Nigerian Police Force that raided the palace of Nnobi monarch, Igwe Nicholas M. Obi on January 3, 2009 while he was celebrating his 70th birthday; Following reports that the police observed that Catholic Eucharistic Mass officiated by about 30 priests (including a Vicar and a Monsignor, representatives of the Bishops of Nnewi and Onitsha Arch-Diocese), and 5 Nuns was in progress with large crowd of congregations at HRH’s palace; Reports indicate that the police ordered the priests to stop mass at gun point and threatened to take actions if the priests continue with the Holy Mass. Reports also indicate that the police also attempted to illegally arrest the monarch while practicing his Christian faith. Reports also indicate that one of the police team leaders, after placing a call to his “supposed Boss” and without provocation, proceeded to disrupt the events planned to celebrate 70th birthday of the monarch. Reports also indicate that police stayed in the palace compound interrupting the religious mass and urging the priests and the Master of Ceremony to rush the program, or they “will take drastic actions”. Reports also indicate that the police also mounted barricades to prevent worshipers from going to the palace to celebrate Holy Mass and pay homage to the monarch. Reports also indicate that towards afternoon, as more people and dancing groups began trooping to the palace, reports indicate that the police administered teargas on peaceful crowd going to celebrate 70th birthday of the monarch. Reports also indicate that the police had no court injunction or Order stopping the monarch from hosting religious service and other events in celebration of his 70th birthday. Africans In America, Inc. wish to express our greatest shock that such incident will take place in a democratic government in Nigeria. We are concerned at the reported level of poor judgment, insensitivity and barbarity Anambra State Police Commanded by Alhaji Mohammed Abbas (a devout Muslim) showed during the raid, especially the stoppage of Catholic Eucharistic Mass, assault and threats to shoot the Catholic Priests and Nuns, and attempt to arrest the monarch of Nnobi Community, Igwe Nicholas Obi. Africans In America, Inc. wish to state that, the police raid at Nnobi Palace, illegal attempt to arrest the monarch, disruption of Catholic Eucharistic Mass, threats to shoot about 30 priests and 5 Nuns, administration of tear gas on peaceful crowd, mounting illegal barricades and preventing people from paying homage to the town monarch represent serious danger to Freedom of religion, Freedom of Worship/Association, National Security, Civil Liberty and Rule of Law. Reports also indicate that the Anambra State Police Command claimed they received a written and signed petition alleging there was ‘disturbance in Nnobi Town over Igweship throne and 70 people had been killed and more were planned unless the police stop the planned event at the palace. From our investigations, we found out that the said allegations were false as Nnobi Community was at peace and no such violence or disturbance was recorded or initiated anywhere in Nnobi.
It was evident that the Anambra State Police Command did not bother to investigate the authenticity of the said allegations in the petition before acting, and that, upon finding out that there was no validity to the allegations, the police still made a decision to disrupt the peaceful event at the Palace. This is unacceptable and a wanton violation of the rights of the Igwe, his family and guests, including the Catholic priests and nuns who were conducting their free worship. The question is whether the State Police Command would allow such act in a similar situation in the Muslim Community. We want to state that this kind of bogus allegations/petitions and police conducts is becoming a pattern in Anambra State these days because similar incident reportedly took place at the palace of Igwe Jonathan O. Okpalaezecha of Akpo town in Aguata South Local Government Area and Igwe Emma Nnabuife, Ezeoha II of Isseke and many others in 2008. We are concerned that the police that invaded Nnobi palace reportedly made inconsistent statements regarding the person that gave them the order/instruction to carry their actions. Police reportedly sometimes stated they had order from ‘Abuja’, ‘above’, ‘His Excellency’, and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. We are concerned that if police could inflict such illegality and barbarism upon town’s monarchs and Catholic priests during Catholic Eucharistic Mass in broad daylight, then, no one is safe in Anambra State, Nigeria. The actions of Anambra State Police Command put very bad dent on the image of the Nigerian Police Force and Nigeria as a nation. It makes mockery of government reforms, it makes mockery of the laws, it makes mockery of reform efforts of Nigerian government and it makes mockery of security in Nigeria. We are also very much concerned about National Security Implications of such illegal and reckless conducts. The police assault of the Nnobi monarch, the 30 Catholic priests and 5 Nuns and the Christian worshippers were capable of igniting ethnic and religious tensions, rioting and senseless killing of human beings in the palace which would have snowballed into other areas and states around the nation.
We want to give special thanks to His Royal Highness, Igwe Nicholas M. Obi (Igwe Omenyi, Nnobi), Chief Francis O. Nwankwo, (Okpala Nnobi), the high chiefs, Chief, Dr. Sir Cosmas Omenugha (Ichie Obama and President General of Nnobi town union), and the entire Nnobi community for sterling leadership and civility in the face of extreme provocation and danger; their civilized conducts saved a lot of lives. Therefore, we are calling on Nigerian government especially; the Inspector General of Police, the Police Commission, ICPC, and Code of Conduct Bureau to order a thorough investigation of the incident, to unravel the real motives behind the police action at Nnobi Palace and to ensure that those responsible (from the petitioner/s to whoever gave the order to raid the palace, to those that carried the assaults and threats) face the full weight of the law. We are also calling on Nigerian Inspector General of Police to institute proper procedures and policies for reacting to Petitions from Nigerian Citizens especially those that are laced with false information, and to ensure that any police officer found guilty of abusing their authority or violating the procedures should be dismissed with immediate effect. We are also calling on the government to carefully study the incident at Nnobi to ensure that police are properly trained to investigate allegations in a petition first, and then decide on appropriate action based on their findings. We are also calling on Anambra State and Idemili South Local Governments to provide necessary assistance, such as medical and psychological evaluation, treatment/trauma counseling to the victims of the raid at Nnobi palace. We are also calling on Nigerian governments (Federal, State and Local) to arrange payment of adequate restitution to the victims. Finally, we are also calling on human rights community in Nigeria and the international community to pay very close attention to human rights issues in Anambra State, Nigeria. Signed: CC: The Nigerian Police Commission
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