SitiTalk Showcase: Carmelites Prisoner's Interest Organization (CAPIO):

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The rights of prisoners are abused all over the world, and this is probably worse in developing nations. The international standard for the human rights of prisoners is certainly not been adhered to in many countries as abuse of prisoners remain a major issue in many countries. In Nigeria organizations such as CAPIO are working tirelessly to better the lives of prisoners. CAPIO is run by a Carmelite priest, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku. In addition, CAPIO has been involved in assisting the disadvantaged in rural areas. Most recently, the village of Nimbo, Enugu State, Nigeria where scores of villagers were massacred by over 500 Fulani herdsmen, a violent group of herdsmen known for savage killings in Nigeria. The Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium describes Nigeria's herdsmen as an active terrorist group in Nigeria.

The following Press Release (May 2016) details CAPIO's involvement in humanitarian work, most recently, assisting victims of Fulani herdsmen violence in Nimbo, Enugu State Nigeria.

PRESS STATEMENT Nimbo: CAPIO tasks Ugwuanyi on development of rural areas A coalition of non-governmental organizations in Enugu has called on the Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to pay more attention to the development of rural areas in the state as his government plans to set up measures to forestall more attacks of Fulani herdsmen. Yesterday in Oda-Nimbo, Uzouwani Council, the coalition of also urged the government to look beyond the inauguration of security measures like neighbourhood watch groups while it examines ways of facing the menace of the herdsmen. The coalition also asked the government not be in a hurry to conclude the matter at Nimbo but to use it as an excuse to review its policy on development of rural areas. According to the Executive Director of the Carmelites Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO), Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku, who led the coalition of NGOs to donate relief materials to the victims of the attack by herdsmen: “It is evident that life in the rural areas has remained rustic where the inhabitants lack even the most basic of amenities, while those in the metropolis have a surfeit of such amenities. That situation has become untenable considering the environmental risks the inhabitants of the rural areas are exposed to. “The government should embark on extensive agricultural activities in Nimbo, which is an agrarian community rather than abandoning the people to an agrarian subsistence existence. Government’s failure to exploit the agricultural potentials of the community is akin to abandoning the people to the devilish whims of the herdsmen, who are attracted to the lush grass in the area. A stronger government presence in Nimbo and other communities in the council, will attract investors in the agriculture sector and the untapped potential of Nimbo; this would definitely keep the herdsmen away.” At the palace of the Igwe of Nimbo, HRH John Akor, Rev Fr. Ekeroku noted that, today Nimbo looks secured with the presence of the army and police, but “violence breeds violence and having a battalion of soldiers would amount to nothing without making life more meaningful for the people by providing for them the basic things of life, like good access roads, health centers, good schools, while weaning them off the land through mechanized farming. And since these attacks can only take place in the rural areas and not in the metropolis, the rural areas must be adequately protected.”