IPDI- Backs Amnesty Int’l On Secret Detention Centres In Nigeria

IJAW People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, a rights group in Delta State, yesterday, said that Amnesty International’s claim that the Nigerian government keeps secret detention facilities is true, describing attempts by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to rubbish it as disappointing...

IPDI’s National President, Mr. Austin Ozobo, in a statement, said: “We wish to reaffirm Amnesty International’s position that hundreds of persons are being held in secret facilities in the country. “The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed’s rebuttal should not be taken seriously. “Nigeria does not have respect for the International Convention for the Protection of Persons from Enforced Disappearance, to which it is a signatory. “It is a fact that all security agencies in Nigeria operate secret cells—the Police Force, Army, Navy, Customs, Immigration and DSS. Niger Delta is the major causality of these secret facilities. “It is unfortunate that some of our brothers from Niger Delta such as Daniel Ezekiel, Edmond Ebiware, Bony Gawei and others are wasting away in these secret facilities without being arraigned. “Daniel Ezekiel was arrested on August 2, 2016 from Warri, Delta State, and since then his whereabouts are unknown. He was framed up and arrested over a mere Facebook post.”