Nigerian Soldiers Accused Of Burning Homes, Looting Property In Imo Community
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The group cited a complaint from one Mr. Anayo Vigilus Njoku, a Lagos-based technician, whose ancestral home and newly completed retirement house in Umualumaku were reportedly destroyed in the attack.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has submitted a petition to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, alleging that soldiers were involved in the looting and burning of homes in Umualumaku, Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
In the petition dated July 26, 2025, and signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC called for an urgent and independent investigation into what it described as a "serious incident of looting, arson, and destruction of property" allegedly carried out by soldiers on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
The group cited a complaint from one Mr. Anayo Vigilus Njoku, a Lagos-based technician, whose ancestral home and newly completed retirement house in Umualumaku were reportedly destroyed in the attack.
According to Njoku, his homes were looted and set ablaze, with food items, mobile phones, household items, and other personal belongings stolen by the military officers.
He also alleged that the soldiers threatened his relatives at gunpoint when they tried to extinguish the fire.
RULAAC expressed deep concern over the pattern of reprisal operations by security forces in Imo and other parts of Nigeria’s South-East region, warning that such actions not only violate the Constitution but also worsen the security situation by alienating innocent civilians.
“While we recognise the complex and deteriorating security situation in Umualumaku and surrounding areas,” RULAAC said in the petition, “we must underline that state-sanctioned reprisals, collective punishment, and property destruction cannot substitute for lawful and intelligence-driven law enforcement.”
The rights group noted that parts of Imo State have been under siege from criminal elements, including violent gangs and suspected separatist militants, but stressed that security agencies must uphold human rights even in the face of these challenges.
“It is the constitutional and moral responsibility of security forces to act with restraint, professionalism, and strict adherence to human rights and the rule of law,” RULAAC said.
The group cited Sections 34, 37, 43, and 44 of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.
RULAAC demanded: “That the Defence Headquarters immediately investigate the July 23 incident in Umualumaku to establish the identity of the officers involved and the legality of their actions.
“That disciplinary and, where appropriate, criminal sanctions be applied to any personnel found to have acted outside the bounds of their mandate.
“That the Nigerian Army clearly communicates operational protocols to all deployed units, reaffirming that arson, looting, and reprisals are unlawful and erode community trust in security institutions.
“That the Federal and Imo State Governments provide immediate humanitarian relief and compensation to Mr. Njoku and others whose homes or property were destroyed, in coordination with NEMA and other agencies.
“That the Defence Headquarters engages with civil society, community leaders, and the National Human Rights Commission to develop protocols for civilian protection in conflict-prone areas and improve intelligence gathering through rights-respecting means.”
The group also emphasised the need for transparent and accountable security operations in conflict-prone regions, warning against the dangerous precedent set by unchecked military action.
“Security must not come at the cost of justice, and enforcement must not descend into vengeance,” the petition stated.
“We respectfully urge your office to lead by example, to demonstrate that the Nigerian Armed Forces remain bound by constitutional limits and committed to upholding the rule of law.”
The petition was also copied to key national and international authorities, including Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, the Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Defence, the National Human Rights Commission, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Nigerian Bar Association, and relevant National Assembly committees.
RULAAC urged the authorities to act swiftly to prevent further alienation of law-abiding citizens in a region already fraught with insecurity.
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