ABUJA, (CAJ News) – NIGERIAN police are accused of killing three youths southeast of the country where locals are opposed to oil extraction by international companies.
The trio was allegedly killed in Luebe community in Ogoniland on Sunday.
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni people (MOSOP) said the youths had attempted to stop the police from escorting petroleum products, said to be illegally-mined, through their community en-route Ndoki in Oyigbo,Rivers State.
Shell allegedly extracted the products.
Fegalo Nsuke, MOSOP spokesperson, said the Ogoni people were disheartened by the alleged killings.
“We note with regret, the impunity that characterizes the killings and
abuses perpetrated by Nigerian security forces against the Ogoni people,” Nsuke said.
The official said recently, over 35 people were killed in Ogoniland in a military raid preceding the last re-run elections.
The national assembly launched a probe into the incident but the report has not been made public.
Last month, Nigerian soldiers allegedly shot at peaceful protesters in Ogoniland but it is alleged no one had been held to account.
“We expect the security forces to protect our people and not kill them, we therefore want to make clear, our strong disgust against the impunity that has characterized human rights abuses by security men in Ogoniland and demand and end to this,” Nsuke said.
Comment could not be obtained from Shell or government.
The United Nations Environmental Programme has recommended a clean-up of the region after decades of pollution emanating from oil extraction.
– CAJ News