President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
State House (Aso Rock)
Abuja, Nigeria
Your Excellency:
It is with a very heavy heart that we the under-signed write openly to you after reading the news that about 200 villagers were massacred on Monday, October 22 at Gbeji, Zakim-Bian, Vasase and Agbayiin and other villages near the Benue-Taraba states border.
Confirmed accounts state that this heinous crime on innocent persons was committed by a contingent of Nigerian army personnel in full combat gear. This was apparently a revenge killing of October 11's unfortunate murder of 19 soldiers who were allegedly out on reconnaissance in the vicinity while a communal strife between the Tivs and the Jukuns was ongoing.
We are particularly struck that this revenge killing came on the very day that an official, nationally-televised, and highly emotional burial of the dead soldiers was held in Abuja. At the event, you were quoted as follows: "I have directed security agencies to track down and bring the perpetrators to book. We will make sure it does not occur again". [This Day, October 23, 2001]
This brings to mind Odi, Bayelsa State, when in November 1999 you gave similar ambiguous orders which resulted in the killing of over 375 villagers and the town's complete razing to the ground. That episode was also in revenge of the killings of 7 policemen and 2 soldiers.
During a visit to Odi later on, you were also quoted as stating that you regretted the incident and that "it would not happen again." Therefore, your latest order was completely alarming and highly provocative, and we consider it a direct cause of the present carnage, a marching order that was taken to heart by the marauding soldiers in Gbeji and environs.
One wonders how once again as in Odi, the use of security forces become engaged without the knowledge of the Benue State governor, who is the constitutional Chief Security Officer and was away visiting Abuja for the official funeral of the soldiers in question. One wonders what measures were put in place to warn communal combatants that these soldiers were not partisan impostors out to take sides, and hence part of the problem rather than the solution. One wonders
when and who gave the orders for the soldiers to go into Gbeji.
Let us make it very clear: we do not condone the killing of security agents whether in Odi or Gbeji or anywhere else in Nigeria. However, two wrongs do not make a right, and under NO circumstances should official government agents carry out ANY search-and-destroy missions
on Nigerian citizens, to punish without guilt established.
After all, Mr. President, we are in a civilian (and supposedly democratic) regime where the rule-of-law abides and where all are presumed innocent until proven guilty. When you became the civilian Chief Executive of Nigeria's Federal Government and Commander-in-Chief of its Armed Forces in May 1999, Nigerian citizens and international observers had thought that your administration would usher in credible strategies aimed at redressing the flagrant
violations that you inherited from previous military regimes - for example, the abuse of human, environmental, socio-economic and cultural rights of Nigerians by government and its law enforcement agencies.
Instead, we find that too much blood of thousands of innocent Nigerians, including women and children, continues to be shed in many ethnic and religious strifes because of these unattended
issues, and there is no end in sight.
Mr. President, you must - repeat MUST - begin to put a stop to this bloodletting now by ensuring that the soldiers who carried out this heinous crime are brought to book in the proper judicial sense of the word, notwithstanding their understandable pain following the deaths
of their colleagues. We strongly urge for the sake of justice and fairness that whoever is in your administration - whether in the Justice Ministry, Defence Ministry, or the Police Force - that might be an interested party in the ongoing conflict among the Jukuns and the Tivs of the Gbeji area, and who might impede an independent judicial investigation of this carnage, must be asked to step aside.
More importantly, there must be a permanent solution to the seemingly endless ethnic and religious crises that now appear to be touchstones of your administration.
Disclosures and counter-accusations at the recently-concluded Oputa Panel have given a chilling indication of the raw emotions that continue to simmer across the country, with manifestations such as those now occurring in Benue and Taraba States. The Institute for
Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) which was established under your Presidency in February 2000 under the Ministry of Co-operation and Integration in Africa has obviously brought no peace and resolved no conflict.
Even the National Assembly appears helpless under the circumstances, as some representatives are forced to publicly take sides in the conflicts, and sometimes make inflammatory statements
themselves. The Election Year 2003 is just around the corner, to be preceded by the nomination Year 2002, three months away, with all their grave political concerns.
We do not wish to wait until such a time that ECOMOG, African Union or United Nations troops are sent into Nigeria to disengage warring factions. Consequently, whether it be named a National Dialogue, a National Conference, etc.: We demand that a formal avenue for dialogue be facilitated among ALL of Nigeria's stakeholders without further delay to ensure that these crises cease.
This blood-letting must stop, Mr. President!
Signed:
Mobolaji E. Aluko
On Behalf of the Undersigned:
Mobolaji E. Aluko, Burtonsville, Maryland, USA
Olusola Adeyeye, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Adey Oyenuga, Orange, California, USA
Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Belleville, MI, USA
Steven S. Kueberuwa, Mitchellville, Maryland, USA
David Izon, Washington DC, USA
Paul E. Ekadi, Dallas, Texas, USA
Opubo G. Benebo, Hackensack, NJ, USA
Patrick Akinbola, Columbia, MO, USA
Yakubu Tor-Agbidye, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Humphrey N Okeke, San Leandro CA, USA
Joseph M. Ebiware, Adams, Massachusetts, USA
Mku Ityokumbul, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Daphne Wysham, Washington, DC, USA
Dele Olawole, Norway
Charles Orevaoghene, Norway
Anthony Martins, Norway
Norman Idehen, Norway
Dickson Ogboa, Norway
Akinyemi Rasak, Norway
John Ogunbona , Norway
Agber Dimah, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
Obemiasor Olusegun Abebe, Stone Mtn., GA, USA
David S. Agum, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Timothy Aondona Ijir, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Tyowua Iyorbo, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Chukwuemeka Okere, Regina, SK. Canada
Adeniran Adeboye, Washington, DC, USA
Muminu Adekunle Badmus, Brentwood MD, USA
Kale Oyedeji, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA
Michael Sanya Arigbede, Milpitas, California, USA
Ademola Adegbulu, London UK
Utyondukaa Ikper, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Gbekeloluwa B. Oguntimein, Baltimore, MD USA
Love Mngohol Chile, Auckland New Zealand
Izielen Agbon, Caracas, Venezuela
Ilesanmi Adesida, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Tavershima Adyorough, Atlanta, Georgia
Titoe Miriki, Miami, Florida, USA
Emmanuel V. Aggreh, Moreno Valley, CA, USA
Aondover Tarhule, Noman, Oklahoma, USA
'Seni Ajao, Atlanta, GA
Bello Bibobra Orubebe, Washington, DC, USA
Paul Olatoye, Randallstown, MD, USA
Dapo Olorunyomi, Germantown, Maryland, USA
Dipo Oba Ogunrinde, Bowie Maryland, USA
Ayo Oyediran, McLean VA, USA
Oluwadare M. Adeyemo, Lanham, MD, USA
Tor A. Kwembe, Richton Park, Illinois, USA
Omo Omoruyi, Somerville, MA, USA
Akinwale Philips, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Edwin Sawacha, London , England , UK
Ropo Sekoni, Columbia, MD, USA
Broderick Eribo, Washington DC, USA
Tunde Ojo, Washington, DC, USA
Francis Ebi Porbeni, Raleigh, NC, USA
Steve D. Ugbah, Dublin, California, USA
James T. Gire, Lexington, Virginia, USA
Stevina Evuleocha, Dublin, California USA
John Tor-Agbidye, Little Rock, Arkansas USA
Magnus Ekwueme, Dallas, TX, USA
Rotimi Ogunsuyi, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Moses Olugbenga Agboola, Houston, TX, USA
Andrew Edevbie, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Miriam Tivzenda,Marietta, GA, USA
Dokubo Goodhead, Seattle, WA, USA
Daniel Pever, Philadelphia, USA
Miedide R. Doukpolagha, Campbell, CA, USA
Sachia Khasar, South San Francisco, CA
Terseer Hemben, Detroit, MI, USA
Adelekan Oyejide, Mission Viejo, California, USA
Adekunle Shobajo, Washington, DC, USA
Joseph Zume, Oklahoma, U.S.A
Steve T. Malu, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Orduen Abunku, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
Henry K. Mngerem, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Olivet I. W. Jagusah, Charleston, Illinois, USA
Oluyemi Owogold Kuku, Anaheim CA, USA
Eronini R Megwa, Cape Town, South Africa
Ola' Tokosi, Cape Town, South Africa
Adelaide Sosseh-Gaye, Banjul, The Gambia
Israel Ikyumior, Lagos, Nigeria
Ganiyu Jaiyeola, White Sands, New Mexico, USA
Akpe Mbaatyo, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Goke Aiyegbusi, Maryland, USA
Abiodun Adepoju, Washington, DC, USA
Joseph A. Aladesanmi, Boston, Massachusetts,USA
Clement Ikpatt, Claymont, Delaware, USA
J. Yashi, Kent County, UK
Samuel A. John, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Samuel Ayodele, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Mopelola Adegoke, Dover, DE, USA
Olajide O. Olatunji, Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Onyeka Okoh, Upper Marlboro, Maryland USA
Wale Adeoshun, London, England
Abdul K. Mohammed, Jamestown, NC, USA
Enefiok Ekpe, Saskatoon, Canada
Aremo Kakaki, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Oluremi Olatokunbo Adalemo, Mitchellville, MD, USA
Bunmi Fatoye-Matory, Cambridge, USA
Chuks D. Eleonu, Washington DC, USA
Juliette M. Tuakli, Boston, MA, USA
Lasisi O. Mohammed Atlanta, GA, USA
Oyewole Adeyemo, Auburn, Alabama, USA
Joseph Oyeniyi Aina, USA
Olumide Olatoye, Toronto, Canada
Guides
"This Blood-Letting Must
Stop!"