HURIWA Urges Defence Chief to Reassure Onuimo Residents Amid Bombing Rumours

HURIWA Urges Defence Chief to Reassure Onuimo Residents Amid Bombing Rumours

By Emmanuel Onwubiko

A prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, to urgently allay the growing fears of the people and residents of Onuimo Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State following widespread and unsettling rumours of planned aerial bombardments by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

HURIWA, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, expressed deep concern over the distressing reports circulating within and beyond Onuimo LGA that the Nigerian military was allegedly planning to conduct air raids targeting communities in the area under the guise of anti-terror operations. The rights group noted that the situation has observably, triggered mass panic among residents, leading to the displacement of over 45 percent of the population, who have fled their homes and communities out of fear for their lives.

The association warned that the continuation of these unverified but alarming rumours, if left unaddressed by the Defence Headquarters, could lead to the complete breakdown of peace and stability in the affected area and result in further humanitarian consequences for innocent and law-abiding Nigerians.

“HURIWA is inundated with credible reports that communities in and around Onuimo LGA, situated near Okigwe in Imo State, are gripped by mass hysteria and insecurity due to the rumoured military bombardment of the area,” the statement read.

“As we speak, more than 45% of the residents of these towns and villages have evacuated in fear of their lives. Schools are shutting down, markets are deserted, and economic activities are grinding to a halt. This is completely unacceptable and must not be allowed to fester any further.”

HURIWA stated emphatically that the Defence Headquarters and the Chief of Defence Staff owe Nigerians—especially the vulnerable and already traumatised communities of the South East—a clear and public assurance that no military bombardment will be carried out against innocent civilians.

According to the group, “The Nigerian military was constitutionally established to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity, uphold peace and security, and protect the civilian population—not to instill fear in them.”

The rights group warned that allowing these dangerous rumours to persist without clarification from the highest military authorities would not only worsen the humanitarian situation but could also create unnecessary tension and distrust between the people and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“These communities are not enemy combatants. They are not hiding terrorists or harbouring threats to the Nigerian state. They are ordinary citizens—farmers, traders, schoolchildren, and artisans—who have lived for generations in peace. Any rumour or perceived threat of bombardment must be swiftly dispelled by the authorities so that they can return to their lawful and legitimate businesses,” the statement continued.

HURIWA stressed that if the military had intelligence on any threats in or around the Onuimo axis, the appropriate course of action should be the application of surgical and intelligence-led operations specifically targeting criminals—not the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, which would contravene both national and international humanitarian laws.

“We urge the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa, and the Defence Headquarters to come forward publicly to deny or confirm these rumours,” HURIWA stated. “If there are no such plans, then a strong, clear, and reassuring message should be sent out immediately to the residents of Onuimo LGA to allay their fears and encourage them to return home.”

The group expressed dismay that such damaging rumours could be allowed to spread unchecked, plunging thousands of residents into anxiety and hardship. HURIWA highlighted that many families have been rendered homeless and destitute as a result of the panic-induced relocation.

“The suffering being experienced by these Nigerians, who are fleeing not from terrorists but from rumours of possible attacks by their own country’s military, is unimaginable even as people are abandoning their farms, shops, and sources of livelihood. This is no way to live. This is no way to build a nation,” HURIWA lamented.

While acknowledging the role of the military in safeguarding national security, the group cautioned that any operation that disregards civilian protection or instills unnecessary fear among the population is counterproductive and in violation of international norms on rules of engagement and civil-military relations.

“The Nigerian Army and Air Force should never be viewed as an existential threat by law-abiding citizens. They are the shield of the people, not their sword,” the association noted.

In conclusion, HURIWA demanded immediate action from the Defence Headquarters to restore confidence in the affected communities by issuing a categorical statement assuring the people of Onuimo that they will not be bombed and that their safety is guaranteed under the protection of the Nigerian Constitution.

The organisation pledged to continue monitoring the situation and vowed to raise national and international awareness should the rumours escalate into action or if government silence persists in the face of such grave public concern.

“Nigerians deserve peace, clarity, and security—not silence, suspicion, and fear. The people of Onuimo LGA must be assured of their safety without delay,” the statement concluded.