The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), a human rights group based in Onitsha, has alleged that no fewer than 180 people were killed in Abia State during the military exercise known as ‘Operation Python Dance II’ which was conducted in October 2017.
In what the group termed, “Concluding the findings of yearlong investigation into the Nigerian army python dance massacre in Igbo land (South East), principally targeted at Abia State, especially the innocent citizens and residents of the state”, it claimed that the lives that were lost could be up to 180.
In the report signed by its board chairman, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, and other officials of the group, it said, “The so-called ‘Army Python Dance 11’ was carried out between 8th September and 14th October, 2017 in Asa/Ogwe, Aba, Isiala-Ngwa, and Umuahia (Afara-Ukwu) areas of Abia State, leading to the death of no fewer than 180 and 140 terminal injuries.
“Statistical breakdown of the killings are: (1) Afara-Ukwu palace massacre, 105 deaths; Isiala-Ngwa, 20 deaths, and Aba/Asa-Ogwe, 55 deaths.”
It had, in an earlier report, put the death toll at 150.
The group said the military operation “turned into the massacre of over 180 unarmed and defenceless citizens of Igbo ethnic nationality in three days of 12th, 13th, and 14th September, 2017.”
It added that the action “was directed by President Muhammadu Buhari after a meeting he held with the country’s service chiefs, particularly the Nigerian Army Chief of Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff.”
“The genocidal operation was coordinated by the Defence Headquarters and supervised and executed by the Chief of Army Staff,” it added.
The group also said apart from the fact that the bodies of most of those shot and killed by soldiers were taken to unknown locations till date, further findings revealed that they may have been buried in secret and shallow graves, and most likely decimated with raw acid substances to erase traces; or dumped on earth the surface inside isolated bushes, forests, ditches, deep gullies; or thrown off the bridge into the rivers in the dead of night.
What was saddening and shocking, it added, was the fact that all the soldiers who perpetrated the alleged crimes or were fingered in the massacre were still on the prowl with none arrested, tried or convicted till date.
“None of the wounded citizens was treated by the Federal Government or government of Abia State, nor any form of compensation awarded to any of the slain victim’s families till date.
“These, domestically, amount to multiple murders, attempted murders, and torture (assault occasioning grievous bodily harm), punished feloniously and grievously.
“They are also fundamental breaches of the international human rights and humanitarian laws such as perpetration and perpetuation of ethno-religious cleansing, racial persecution, crimes against humanity and genocide; severely punishable under the international criminal law, including the Rome Statute of 1998, ratified or acceded to by Nigeria on 27th September 2001,” it concluded. The group released the names of those allegedly massacred or shot and wounded during the operation.
