Nigerian Army Accused of Looting and Arson in Imo State as BRGIE Calls for U.S. Sanctions
Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC). The civil rights group accuses soldiers of looting and burning properties
On July 23, 2025, the community of Umualumaku in Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State was left in ruins following an alleged attack by Nigerian Army personnel, according to the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC). The civil rights group accuses soldiers of looting and burning properties, displacing numerous residents and destroying the ancestral and personal homes of Mr. Anayo Vigilus Njoku, a Lagos-based technician. Valuables, including food items, household goods, mobile phones, and personal belongings, were reportedly stolen, with relatives threatened at gunpoint when attempting to extinguish fires.
RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, condemned the incident as a “clear breach of human rights and the rule of law,” citing violations of Nigeria’s Constitution (Sections 34, 37, 43, and 44) and international human rights obligations. In a petition dated July 26, 2025, addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, RULAAC demanded an immediate investigation, disciplinary action against culpable personnel, clear communication of operational protocols prohibiting arson and looting, and compensation for victims like Mr. Njoku. The petition was also sent to the United Nations office for Human Rights in Nigeria and the National Security Adviser, highlighting a disturbing pattern of alleged military misconduct in the South-East.
Adding to the outrage, the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) has called on the United States to impose sanctions on Nigeria, citing the Umualumaku incident as evidence of systemic human rights abuses by security forces. BRGIE argues that such actions reflect a broader disregard for civilian rights in the South-East, warranting international intervention.
The backdrop of this incident is a volatile security situation in Umualumaku, plagued by suspected jihadist militants. Reports of a Biafran Liberation Army offensive involving hours of gunfire on the same day may have triggered the military’s response. However, RULAAC insists that state-sanctioned reprisals and collective punishment are unlawful, exacerbating tensions rather than resolving insecurity. The group notes that residents’ fear of testifying publicly hinders independent verification, increasing the risk of unlawful profiling and extrajudicial actions.
The Nigerian Army’s 82 Division, in a statement on July 31, 2025, denied the allegations, calling them “false and calculated attempts to sabotage” their operations. Yet, similar accusations in Ehime Mbano in 2023, also denied by the Army, suggest a recurring issue.
The call for U.S. sanctions by BRGIE escalates the stakes, reflecting growing frustration with alleged impunity. While the Army’s denial and the complex security context create competing narratives, the lack of independent investigations fuels distrust. RULAAC’s demands for accountability and adherence to constitutional limits are critical, as is their warning that security must not come at the cost of justice. The Chief of Defence Staff faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that Nigeria’s armed forces operate within the rule of law, particularly as international scrutiny intensifies with BRGIE’s appeal.
This incident underscores the urgent need for intelligence-driven law enforcement and dialogue with Biafra separatists to prevent further erosion of trust between security forces and South-East communities. Without accountability, the cycle of violence and reprisals risks further destabilizing the region.