United States President Joe Biden has been asked to halt the delivery of war planes to Nigeria over the “genocide tweet” of President Muhammadu Buhari, the administration’s ban on Twitter and threat to prosecute Nigerians who flout the ban.
International human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe made the request in a letter to Biden on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.
Ogebe, Managing Partner of the Washington-based US NIGERIA LAW GROUP, wrote in the letter entitled HALT DELIVERY OF WAR PLANES TO NIGERIA OVER GENOCIDE TWEET:
“Mr President,
“Last week, Twitter deleted a tweet by Nigeria’s president Buhari threatening a reprise of that nation’s infamous Biafra genocide of the ’60s.
“Mjr Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) responded by banning Twitter in Nigeria & his attorney general promised to prosecute millions of Nigerian Twitter users if they continue to use the app.
“We thank the US, UK & other nations who have decried the ban by Buhari as a violation of the human right of free expression.
“However more must be done in view of the underlying threat that Gen. Buhari made against his own citizens.
“We urge the United States to halt the delivery to Nigeria of TUCANO warplanes scheduled for next month – July!
“Here’s why. Gen. Buhari was an officer during the ‘60s Biafran genocide that claimed over 1 million lives so his threats must not be taken lightly given his past participation therein.
“Secondly Gen. Buhari as military dictator in the ’80s imprisoned journalists & shut down newspapers in a massive press repression. He has simply graduated from repressing print media to social media in 2021.
“Thirdly Gen. Buhari’s misguided attacks on Twitter happened while his government failed to protect over 200 Nigerians killed in the past two weeks by militia from his Fulani Herdsmen tribe. Reports say over 60 were killed in two parts of Benue State, 93 killed in Kebbi and Kaduna states and 58 killed in Niger and Plateau states. In Plateau state the Fulani Militia rampaged for a whole week right next to a military cantonment where Gen. Buhari once served without the army protecting the helpless women & children being slaughtered. Three US affiliated schools/orphanages had to be evacuated.
“Fourthly Nigeria’s Airforce has experienced three deadly plane crashes in three months some under suspicious circumstances in addition accidentally bombing innocent citizens. Please don’t deliver more weapons for Buhari to misuse against his people.”
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