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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted what it called alleged media trial and cyberbullying of Enugu-based estate developer, Kingsley Nebo, over the Etiti-Ngwo land dispute.
HURIWA called on the the police and relevant authorities to ensure fairness, transparency, and protection of human rights in the ongoing investigations.
In a statement on Tuesday, HURIWA described Nebo as “a legitimate businessman who lawfully acquired landed property from the Etiti-Ngwo community but has since been subjected to inhumane treatment, orchestrated framing, and online defamation allegedly instigated by some influential individuals within the community.”
The rights group, in the statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that it received a detailed petition from Nebo, alleging a disturbing pattern of intimidation, abduction, and physical assault by some community leaders seeking to reclaim land he had lawfully purchased.
The statement quoted the petition as saying that Nebo was “abducted and tortured for two weeks by operatives at the SWAT office in Enugu before being forced to sign a pre-written confession under duress.”
He also alleged that “some community leaders participated in the physical torture, video-recorded the assault, and later circulated the clips on social media to smear his name,” adding that he was released after a comprehensive investigation by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department (FID), DIG Nebolisa Benjamin Okolo.
Speaking further on the development, HURIWA, lamented that a deliberate campaign of calumny had continued against Nebo, with unverified and one-sided narratives being circulated online to mislead the public and manipulate perceptions.
According to HURIIWA, this reckless cyberbullying not only endangers the life of an innocent man but also undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system,” HURIWA warned.
The association appealed to the Etiti-Ngwo community to refrain from prejudicial commentary and allow the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja, which is handling the case, to conclude its investigation without external influence.
HURIWA also faulted the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for banning police involvement in land-related matters, describing it as a “proactive and commendable step toward curbing abuses of office.”
The rights group, however, expressed concern over emerging allegations that some officials in the Enugu State Government are attempting to deploy forest guards to take over disputed lands in parts of the state, including Obeagu and Etiti-Ngwo communities.
HURIWA cautioned that such actions are unconstitutional, especially when court proceedings are ongoing over ownership rights.
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