Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika, has
summoned families of the six youths alleged to have been killed by soldiers in
Bayelsa State.
The families of the deceased youths, a human rights lawyer as well as a civil society group, had sued the Army Chief, Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion of Nigerian Army, Effurun as well as its counterparts in Bayelsa State in connection with the killing of the youths.
The soldiers in 3 Battalion and their counterparts in Bayelsa had insisted that the youths were sea pirates that were intercepted in the waterways but the human rights activist and family members of the victims insist they were not criminals.
The COAS had few months ago, following a petition, ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged killing of the youths.
Sequel to the ongoing trial for soldiers allegedly involved in killing, the families and eye witness to the crime were invited at the weekend by the COAS panel of inquiries.
It was gathered that the group, The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, coordinated by Comrade Ozobo Austin, its counsel Comrade Omes Ogedegbe, a lawyer led the families to see the panel's investigation at Army Barrack, Effurun, near Warri.
The panel was led by one Captain I.A. Suleiman from Aranka Barracks, Lagos.
It was learnt that one of the deceased's two wives and kids were also paraded before the panel.
Source said that an eye witness, who allegedly saw the arrest of the six youths before they were purportedly given jungle justice, also testified at the panel.
Families of the deceased, however, expressed thanks to COAS for his timely intervention and further demanded for immediate release of the bodies for a befitting burial.
The families and Ijaw People Development Initiative have gone to court to seek justice over the matter. The case was adjourned to December 17, 2012.
The families of the deceased youths, a human rights lawyer as well as a civil society group, had sued the Army Chief, Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion of Nigerian Army, Effurun as well as its counterparts in Bayelsa State in connection with the killing of the youths.
The soldiers in 3 Battalion and their counterparts in Bayelsa had insisted that the youths were sea pirates that were intercepted in the waterways but the human rights activist and family members of the victims insist they were not criminals.
The COAS had few months ago, following a petition, ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged killing of the youths.
Sequel to the ongoing trial for soldiers allegedly involved in killing, the families and eye witness to the crime were invited at the weekend by the COAS panel of inquiries.
It was gathered that the group, The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, coordinated by Comrade Ozobo Austin, its counsel Comrade Omes Ogedegbe, a lawyer led the families to see the panel's investigation at Army Barrack, Effurun, near Warri.
The panel was led by one Captain I.A. Suleiman from Aranka Barracks, Lagos.
It was learnt that one of the deceased's two wives and kids were also paraded before the panel.
Source said that an eye witness, who allegedly saw the arrest of the six youths before they were purportedly given jungle justice, also testified at the panel.
Families of the deceased, however, expressed thanks to COAS for his timely intervention and further demanded for immediate release of the bodies for a befitting burial.
The families and Ijaw People Development Initiative have gone to court to seek justice over the matter. The case was adjourned to December 17, 2012.
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