Report Bundu Waterfront Genocide

From the information gathered from direct sources, the trouble started on Tuesday, 6th October 2009 consequent to the World Habitat Day observance, which event created strong assurance in the mind of the public that the planned demolition of waterfronts did not receive the applause of the masses contrary to the claim by government. Sequel to this, the state government undertook a reprisal action the following day, being 6th October 2009 by dispatching overt 300 soldiers to Bundu waterfront to enumerate the area for outright demolition.

Angered by the community, the soldiers were resisted by over 2,000 women and children who protested, claiming that it was wrong for the state government to demolish their places of abode without resettling them, not to mention that the case is pending at the Federal High Court of Nigeria coupled with the fact that there is an order of court restraining both the Chief of Army Staff and the State Governor from going to the waterfront to carry out any act until 13th October 2009 when the case would be coming up for hearing. Press publications on this incident are hereto attached as annexure A.

Further to the dispersal of the military personnel, the state governor, through his special assistant on waterfront development, Mr. Theodore Georgewill, on 9th October 2009 at 12 Noon announced through the Rhythm FM threatening that the enumeration of the waterfront for demolition would be revisited the following week with full force and that nobody could stop government from doing so.

Further to the radio announcement by government; at about 9AM on Monday 12th October 2009, a police lorry conveying more than thirty policemen armed with high-profile weapons such as the A-K47 assault riffles, police bombing equipment and 2 armoured cars, arrived and lay ambush near the waterfront while, according to eye witness accounts, several other armed policemen took cover all around the waterfront.

On sighting the armed policemen, the residents (mostly the women, youths and children) came out in protest against the police interference with their peace. Consequent to this, the police retreated to a short distance away from the waterfront. Not quite long after the retreat, tanks of soldiers drawn from the 2 Brigade of the Nigeria Army arrived with three multipurpose armoured cars and rushed into the waterfront, shooting indiscriminately to disperse the protesters. The shootings, which latter metamorphosed into full military bombardment, left at least five persons dead and nine persons critically wounded by stray bullets (some of the press publications on the incident are hereto attached as annexure B)

Names of those confirmed dead by the President of Port Harcourt Aborigine, Chief Darick Asechemie, were:

1. John Igbikiowubo
2. Tonye Datoru
3. Abiye Yebusika
4. Ibitoru Silas
5. Peter Iyanabo

Those that sustained serious bullet injuries whose conditions are critical and currently receiving treatments at Teme Clinic in Port Harcourt are (1) Tamunotonye Ama, (2) a thirteen-year old school girl and (3) seven others. Photos of the patients will be sent along with Doctor Report.

According to community source more people are still missing, as most of the youth that jumped into river in escape from either the shootings or the police arrests are yet to return while the state government is yet to come out with an official statement regarding those that were arrested.

Observations:

Recalling that the issue of waterfront demolition is currently a subject of valid order of restraint of the Federal High Court of Nigeria coupled with the question of moratorium sought by the UN-HABITAT in connection thereto, the Government of Rivers State lacks moral justification to carry out any act at Bundu Waterfront be it enumeration or demolition without the consent of the residents who are the aggrieved persons.

Besides this, the reason for the state government’s planned demolition of the waterfronts in Port Harcourt was, according to it, in pursuit of the Recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which falsely accused the waterfronts of providing escape routes for the Niger-Delta militants. Now that the militants have all surrendered their arms and received presidential amnesty, the state governor lacks the moral justification to revisit the issue of waterfront demolition, as his reason for the exercise has been overtaken by the amnesty.

Further recalling the recent the state government threat to commence demolition of five major streets in Port Harcourt namely – Iloabuchi, Azikiwe, Ojoto, Sangana and Njemanze streets as from next month to pave way for enabling business environment for the Silverbird Group means that the number of people living in this area, if joined with that of Bundu waterfront and perhaps of Abonnema Wharf, indicates that over 350,000 persons or close to half of the total population of the city of Port Harcourt would be rendered homeless before the end of this year.

This threat calls for consideration of the appeal for urgent action sought in our Report on Njemanze Waterfront Demolition, which emphasized on the need to accord the present and future eviction victims in Port Harcourt the status and protection of refugees under the international Policy on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

It is also strongly suggested that the federal government should be caused to explain the rational behind the release of men of the Nigeria Army to the state governor to carry out evictions of the poor waterfront people who cannot afford three square meals per day, not to mention of the means of providing alternative accommodation if evicted.

It is our further suggestion that a genocide trial should be proposed against all those responsible for the recent killings at Bundu Waterfront and that all those involved in the displacement of Njemanze waterfront tenants be made to face the Committee against Torture for throwing out such a large number of families out of their accommodation during rainfall thereby exposing them to weather and environmental hazards.

Conclusion

Meanwhile a reliable source hinted the union that the governor informed his special assistant that there was no retreat and no surrender in the from the Bundu waterfront demolition and directed him to mobilize to the area for continuation of the markings, which the soldiers carried out and could not finish by 6PM yesterday when they retreated.

As at 9AM this morning, armoured cars with tanks of soldiers were seen all around the Port Harcourt, even around the court premises where the waterfront matter came up hearing.

The Court: restrained the State Governor and the Army to carry our any act on waterfronts

As at the time of sending this Report, the Presiding Judge has issued a formal order restraining the State Governor and the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Staff including the Inspector General of Police from going to any of the waterfronts to carry our any act. The said order will be sent in due course.

C. W. Enwefah

Secretary-General

National Union of Tenants of Nigeria