Amnesty International says it has identified “Umu Oma”, the group behind widespread violence in Nigeria’s South-east.
Abuja, Nigeria – Amnesty International Nigeria says it has identified a group of gunmen known as “Umu Oma” responsible for a series of attacks terrorising residents in Nigeria’s South-east.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the rights body said its research revealed that the armed group, often referred to locally as “unknown gunmen”, invades communities “moving from house to house in search of weapons.”
“Amnesty International’s research shows that the ‘Umu Oma’ gunmen usually invade communities – moving from house to house – in search of weapons. They attack vigilante offices and take away arms,” it said.
The group reportedly assaults residents, loots valuables, and has been linked to killings and arson across Imo and other states. Amnesty lamented that “justice and adequate reparations have eluded victims of the violence.”
However, Kanunta Kanu, brother of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, rejected the report, alleging that Nigerian soldiers, not separatists, were behind the attacks in the region.