TDThe International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) and the South East Zone of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) have announced the commencement of investigations into the reported invasion of Imezi-Owa community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State by soldiers, as well as the alleged burning of civilian homes during the operation.
In a joint statement issued in Enugu on May 14, 2026, the groups said a six-man investigative team had already been deployed to the affected community to carry out what they described as a “detailed and unbiased investigation” into the incident.
According to the statement, the reported military invasion and destruction of houses began on May 6, 2026.
The rights organizations stated that their decision to launch the investigation followed a review of official statements released by the 82 Division Nigerian Army, reports published by the media, including Sahara Reporters, as well as videos and photographs circulating on social media.
The groups said the investigators were tasked with identifying the houses allegedly burnt or demolished, the owners of the properties, and the circumstances surrounding the destruction.
“The involvement of the Eastern Security Network in the incident is also under investigation,” the statement noted.
The organizations added that investigators would seek to establish who carried out the destruction, why the houses were targeted, and the exact locations and dates of the alleged incidents.
They also disclosed that part of the investigation would examine what they described as the “remote and immediate causes” of the invasion and house burnings, including allegations of possible instigation or involvement by armed herdsmen.
The statement was jointly signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi on behalf of Intersociety and Aloysius Emeka Attah for CLO-Southeast.
Neither the Nigerian Army nor the Enugu State Government had officially responded to the latest claims by the rights groups as of the time of filing this report.
