Buhari’s ‘Shoot-On-Sight’ Order Contributed To Insecurity In Nigeria – RULAAC

A civic organization, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has underscored that the current insecurity in South-East Nigeria cannot be solely attributed to secessionist groups advocating for the actualization of the Biafra Nation.

RULAAC made this assertion during the presentation of a report titled “Unveiling the Roots of Insecurity, Healing the Wounds of Human Rights Violations in Southeast Nigeria: A Path Towards Peace, Open Democratic Space, and a Prosperous Future.”

The human rights group criticized the Nigerian government for adopting a counterproductive approach in addressing insecurity in the South-East region, accusing it of pursuing a strategy aimed at quelling dissent rather than addressing underlying issues.

During the report’s unveiling, the Executive Director of RULAAC, Comrade Okechukwu Nwanguma, emphasized the need to highlight the true nature and consequences of the government’s approach to security in the region.

Nwanguma noted that while pro-Biafra agitation and insurgency contribute to insecurity, solely blaming these factors overlooks other significant issues.

He highlighted instances of excessive force and human rights abuses by security forces, citing directives such as the ‘’shoot on sight’’ order issued by President Buhari in 2021 as exacerbating tensions.

The report documents cases of arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings, painting a grim picture of security policies reliant on repressive measures.

Professor Okey Ibeanu, the Regional Director (West Africa) at Ford Foundation, which supported the report financially, lamented the transformation of the once peaceful Southeast into a theater of conflict.