Video of Nigerian soldiers killing two unarmed brothers in Niger Delta

Governance - Abuse of power

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 June 2009 09:54 Thursday, 25 June 2009 09:25

Written by {ga=anti-corruption}

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A video of Nigerian soldiers executing two unarmed brothers in the Niger Delta has sparked outrage and condemnation worldwide with Nigerian main rebel group calling it a “war crime” and demanding international inquiry.

In the video airing on Internet video site, Click here to watch the video, a young man is seen lying on the floor of a naval patrol ship beside the lifeless body of his brother. The man pleads for his life while about 20 Nigerian soldiers prance around and barks questions at him.

One of the soldiers asks in pigin English “Wey the camera?”Another soldier in bare feet and riffle then ask, “ Who you be?” Meaning who are you? The terrified man is seen tapping the lifeless body of his brother with his right hand.

The Nigerian soldier repeats the order “who you be?”

The man answers “Boma”

“Where are you from?” The soldier asked

“Bonny” the man answers.

“Boom, boom” The soldier shoots him on the head and the man dies instantly.

Thetimesofnigeria.com has not been able to verify the circumstance surrounding the death of the other victim.

In its reaction, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) is calling for the International Court of Justice, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch to conduct a judicial inquiry into what it called a “War crime.”

In a petition sent to the organizations and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, MEND said:

“You must have seen the tape of a callous extra judicial killing of two brothers recently in the Niger Delta. This practice is done with impunity and denied by the Nigerian army and government.

“No day passes without an incident such as what you have witnessed.The wanton destruction of property and indiscriminate bombing of civilians by the ill-trained military can best be left to your imagination.

“It is in the midst of this brutality that oil majors conduct their business. This is the real definition of blood oil, which the world must condemn.

“We are calling on the International, the United Nations and the International community to investigate this war crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We want an international commission headed by the UN to conduct an investigation into the war crimes against our people by the Nigerian state.” The statement was signed by Jomo Gbomo.

Click here to watch the video

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