The Osita Chidoka Campaign Organization has kicked against the heavy deployment of troops and weapons to the southeast states by the military for its operation, tagged “Exercise Egwu Eke II” (Python Dance II) in the region.
In a statement issued by Viola Okolie, Director of media of the campaign, the former Minister of Aviation, noted that although his campaign was not against any genuine effort to ensure security of life and property and rid the region of criminal elements, it was equally concerned about the safety and wellbeing of our regular citizens “who are now falling victim of reported abuses and infractions by unscrupulous uniformed men as usually associated with such operations, some of such resulting in avoidable loss of lives, as now being witnessed in the region.”
The statement added: “While we call on all our citizens to be peaceful and law-abiding, we will definitely not accept any deliberate act of provocation, harassment or infringement on the constitutionally guaranteed rights of our people by uniformed men, and for this we demand from the military high command, assurances of utmost professionalism and strict observance to international best practices and approved rules of engagement.
“Consequently, our campaign has set up strong machinery that will closely monitor issues and ensure that cases of infraction against the constitutionally guaranteed rights of our people are immediately taken up whenever and wherever they occur during this trying time.
“Already, we have lawyers and human rights activists who have volunteered to work with us on pro bono basis to ensure that any act of infraction against the constitutionally guaranteed rights of any of our people is immediately taken up through legal and constitutional means.”
