Rights Group Accuses Soldiers of Burning Homes, Looting Property in Imo Community, Demands Urgent Probe
A human rights advocacy group has called on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to investigate alleged looting and arson committed by soldiers in Umualumaku, Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), in a petition dated July 26, 2025, described the July 23 incident as a “serious case of looting, arson, and property destruction.” The petition was signed by RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma.
The group referenced a complaint from Mr. Anayo Vigilus Njoku, a Lagos-based technician, who said his ancestral home and newly completed retirement house were both looted and set ablaze by soldiers. Njoku claimed that food items, mobile phones, household items, and personal belongings were stolen during the military operation. He also alleged that when relatives tried to put out the fire, they were threatened at gunpoint.
RULAAC condemned the incident as part of a broader pattern of alleged military reprisals in Nigeria’s South-East, warning that such actions violate constitutional rights and further alienate civilians in already volatile regions. In its words, “While we recognise the complex and deteriorating security situation in Umualumaku and surrounding areas, state-sanctioned reprisals, collective punishment, and property destruction cannot substitute for lawful and intelligence-driven law enforcement.”
The group stressed that security agencies must uphold professionalism and human rights regardless of the threats they face. It cited Sections 34, 37, 43, and 44 of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as international human rights obligations.
RULAAC called for immediate investigation by Defence Headquarters to identify the officers involved and apply disciplinary or criminal action where necessary.
It also asked for clear operational directives to all troops, the provision of humanitarian aid and compensation to affected individuals, and more collaboration between the military, civil society, and human rights bodies to ensure that civilian protection protocols are observed in conflict-prone areas.
The group urged both the Federal and Imo State Governments, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Assembly, and international organisations to act swiftly to ensure accountability and prevent further alienation of citizens in the region. It concluded by stating that security must not come at the cost of justice and that law enforcement must never become a tool for vengeance.
