May 19, 2008
Dear Mr. Moreno Ocampo:
The organizations listed below write to draw your urgent attention to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. We request that the Office of the Prosecutor open an immediate investigation into those responsible for what appears to be a systematic and widespread campaign of violence against civilians by the Armed Forces of the Nigerian government.
On Wednesday, May 13, 2009 the Nigerian military Joint Task Force (JTF) commenced the land, water and aerial bombardment of a large area in Gbaramatu Kingdom that includes the villages of Oporoza, Kurutie, Kunukunuma, Kokodiagbene, Okerenkoko, Azama, Benikurukuru and Ubefan, under the guise of attacking a MEND militant Camp. Residents of the villages and those visiting for a festival on the day the bombing began were forced to flee their homes and villages. They are hiding in the bush and do not have adequate food or medical supplies. The JTF has not allowed humanitarian aid groups or journalists into the area. As of today the coordinated aerial and ground attacks by the JTF and mass starvation continues. Reports suggest that thousands of innocent civilians are dead already. Reports also suggest that this was a well planned attack with the possible collusion of State government officials.
Together the human rights and environmental organizations listed below urge the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor to use its power to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these crimes against humanity, including Brigadier General Sarkin Bello who is reportedly in command of the JTF’s operations today. Questions regarding President Yar’Adua’s involvement must also be investigated.
The killings in the Delta today can be traced back to similar massacres in 1990 in Umecheum, in Ogoni led by Major Gen Paul Okuntimo in the mid 1990′s, and the 1999 massacre in Odi under the command of Col Agbabiaka.
To-date no investigation of previous massacres has been undertaken, although each was well documented by the international NGO community, including Human Rights Watch.
The Nigerian military must be made aware that it cannot act with impunity. We respectfully request your attention and investigation. Your interest and involvement in this matter has the potential to help save lives in the oil rich regions of the Niger Delta now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Imani Countess for TransAfrica Forum
Patrick Bond for the University of KwaZulu-Natal Centre for Civil Society Environmental Justice Project Sandy Cioffi for Sweet Crude Bill Gallegos for Communities for a Better Environment Jessica Lawrence for The Borneo Project Laura Livoti for Justice in Nigeria Now Danielle Mahonnes for the Center for Third World Organizing Kirsten Moller for Global Exchange Brant Olson for Rainforest Action Network Roger Kim for Asian Pacific Environmental Network Michelle Kinman for Crude Accountability Steve Kretzmann for Oil Change International John Wilner for CounterCorp Emira Woods for Foreign Policy In Focus Daphne Wysham for Sustainable Energy and Economy Network
May 21, 2009 at 2:14 am
I am speechless. Ogoni has come and gone; Odi has been forgotten; now this. I was a corper in Bayelsa State a year after the Odi massacre; during our Endurance Trek we went to Odi, and I tell you, WE DID NOT SEE ANY MALE OLDER THAN 13 OR YOUNGER THAN 40. It was that bad. When will the Nigerian govt and military realize that violence ALWAYS creates more problems than it solves?
May 21, 2009 at 2:14 am
I am speechless. Ogoni has come and gone; Odi has been forgotten; now this. I was a corper in Bayelsa State a year after the Odi massacre; during our Endurance Trek we went to Odi, and I tell you, WE DID NOT SEE ANY MALE OLDER THAN 13 OR YOUNGER THAN 40. It was that bad. When will the Nigerian govt and military realize that violence ALWAYS creates more problems than it solves?