July 27, (THEWILL) – The factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, has written to the European Union (EU) and the United States (US), to impose a visa ban on Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah.
The request followed alleged human rights abuse carried out by the governor in Enugu on Wednesday.
Mbah had on June 5 banned the observance of sit-at-home in the state, urging residents to go about their legitimate duties on Mondays and other days. He had threatened to sanction businesses and institutions that refused to open on Tuesday.
Ekpa, who is based in Finland, alleged that three people lost their lives when traders took to the streets to protest the sealing of their shops by the state government for not opening for business on Monday, due to the sit-at-home order from IPOB.
In a letter to the EU and US, Ekpa requested that a visa ban be imposed on Mbah for violating the citizens’ fundamental human rights.
“We wish to bring to your notice the gross violation and fundamental human rights abuses of the people of Enugu State, Biafra (in Southeast Nigeria) by Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu State,” the letter read in part.
“Peter Mbah is confiscating and locking up people’s businesses and means of sustenance without recourse to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any chatter, treaty or convention known anywhere in the civilized world, thereby denying the people of Enugu State the right to personal property and free enterprise.
“We request that you impose a visa ban on Governor Peter Mbah and add him to the list of terrorists and haters of freedom and democracy in Nigeria”, he wrote.
