HC Deb 22 October 1968 vol 770 cc237-44W
33. Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the official British observer of the number of young children who are dying per day of starvation in Federal controlled areas in Eastern Nigeria.

Mr. Mulley

The British observer has not been able to give any precise estimate on this. However, an increasing number of people are now returning to their villages from the bush, and General Alexander is satisfied that once those in a serious condition are accessible to Federal and other relief workers, they are given all possible attention, if necessary in hospital.

Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the large scale offensive by the Nigerian Federal Government, he will now cease supplying arms to the Federal Government.

Mr. M. Stewart

On 12th June I explained the reasons for our arms policy and I stated then the circumstances in which we would have to reconsider it. The circumstances I spoke of then have not arisen. The Federal Government are still ready for talks. They have not rejected any reasonable terms for a settlement.

There is no evidence that it is the intention of the Federal Government to slaughter or to starve the Ibo people. All the evidence is that, on the contrary, they are doing their utmost to re-integrate the Ibos in the areas they have overrun. They have also invited an international observer force to observe the conduct of their troops. The observers have found no evidence of genocide, as hon. Members will be able to see from their reports which I am arranging to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.—[Vol. 766, c. 293.]

FIRST PART OBSERVERS' INTERIM REPORT

1. The Swedish, British and Canadian Representatives invited by the Federal Military Government to observe the conduct of the Federal troops in the war affected areas visited the First Nigerian Division during the period 25th September—30th September 1968. The Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General travelled with the group. This report covers this particular visit.

2. On arrival in Enugu the group split into two teams, one visiting the area of 1 Sector from Enugu through Awgu to Obinago Obilago and the other visiting the area of 2 Sector from Abakaliki south to the front lines. Each team visited front line positions, military units and headquarters, villages, market places, medical and food distributing stations, refugee camps and major cities and towns. The Observers talked to officers, soldiers, local inhabitants, refugees, members of the civil administration, police, Red Cross officials and missionaries.

3. Throughout the period of their visit the Observers received the fullest co-operation from the military and civilian officials. They encountered no restrictions to their movements or investigations and none of their requests were refused. Representatives of the press were free to accompany the Observers and did so on several occasions.

Conduct of Federal Troops

4. The Observers found the Federal troops in the areas they visited to be alert, cheerful and well disciplined. They neither saw nor heard any evidence that the troops had committed acts with intent to destroy wholly or in part the Ibo people or their property. The observers did see considerable evidence that the troops in the area were assisting the local population, in particular by feeding them until the civil administration and the Red Cross could take over the responsibility.

Conduct of the civilian population

5. Discussions with village leaders and refugees confirm that the Ibo people feared the Federal troops until they actually met them. This fear is the result of the actual fighting and the propaganda put out by the rebels which leads the Ibos to believe the Federal troops will kill them. Once some of their people make contact with the Federal troops this fear is rapidly allayed. The Observers saw a number of village leaders who had just come out of hiding and noted that the numbers of inhabitants returning to the villages are increasing. The Observers considered it significant that in the villages visited the inhabitants displayed no fear of Federal soldiers, even when these soldiers arrived in their midst suddenly. However, it was also noted that very few of the more educated Ibos have yet appeared in areas occupied by Federal troops.

Restoration of normal life

6. The major problems in facilitating the return to normal life in the war affected areas visited include the provision of food and medical facilities and the restoration of buildings and public services such as water, power, etc. The Observers noted that

  1. (a) When an area is first occupied the army provides the civilians found there with the foodstuffs necessary to supplement the food that is available. This responsibility is taken over as rapidly as possible by the civil administration and the Red Cross—assisted where necessary by soldiers. These arrangements appear to have been adequate to date, but from what was seen it is apparent that they will not be sufficient to handle the task if the people continue to come out of the bush at the present rate. A contributing problem is the lack of money in the hands of the people.
  2. (b) The major medical problem observed was the malnutrition caused by a poorly balanced diet. The problem exists in normal times in this area but it has been accentuated in the case of those people who lave spent a long time hiding in the bush. The army, missionaries and Red Cross are doing a good job but their efforts are hampered by a shortage of drugs, reported to be caused by difficulties in transportation from Lagos. In addition, the numbers of medical personnel do not appear to be sufficient to handle a large increase in the numbers requiring attention for example, the Observers noted in Nenwe that there was an increase from 100 on 21st September to about 1,500, mostly women and children when the medical team returned on 28th September.
  3. (c) In the areas where fighting took place there is a considerable amount of physical destruction. This is the result of deliberate destruction of public utilities attributable to the rebels when retreating, destruction by shellfire, the use of materials for shelter by soldiers, the inevitable looting by civilians, and deterioration caused by the weather. No damage was seen in villages visited that were not in the areas affected by the fighting. Some action has been taken by military and civil officials to preserve property.

Summary

7. In summary, in the areas of First Nigerian Division that the Observers visited they found.

  1. (a) Genocide. There is no evidence of any intent by the Federal troops to destroy the Ibo people or their property, and the use of the term genocide is in no way justified.
  2. (b) Conduct of Federal Troops. The troops in the area are taking positive action to obtain the confidence of the local population and assist them in re-establishing a normal life.
  3. (c) Conduct of civilian inhabitants. An increasing number of the inhabitants of the villages, almost all of whom are Ibo, are returning to their homes. The people who have returned to the villages display no fear of the Federal troops.
  4. (d) Food and medical assistance. These are being provided to the civilian population through the combined efforts of the army, the civil administration and the Red Cross. While the supply of food has been adequate, the supplies of drugs and medical 240 assistance in the area seems to be inadequate because of a shortage of transport, particularly air transport. This situation could become serious if an expected large increase in the number of refugees and people requiring such assistance takes place.
  5. (e) Destruction of property. The Observers received no evidence of deliberate and unnecessary destruction of property by Federal troops. There has, however, been considerable destruction as a result of the War, and the work required to repair this situation, which is just beginning, will be very expensive.

Future plans

8. The observers propose to make their next visit to the area of the Third Nigerian Marine Commando Division.

SECOND PART OBSERVERS INTERIM REPORT

Outline of Work

  1. 1. With the arrival of the Polish Representative and the Representatives of the Organisation of African Unity there were more Observers available to cover the ground of the 3rd Marine Commando Division. The group split into two teams one visiting the areas Aba, Owerri and Port Harcourt, the other Calabar Uyo and Kot Ekpene. The visit lasted from the 5th to the 10th of October. In addition to visiting hospitals, camps for displaced persons etc., as enumerated in our First Interim Report we saw and interviewed a number of internees, prisoners of war and some educated Ibos.
  2. 2. The group received excellent co-operation from the military authorities, civilian and volunteer workers. We were free to question detainees, prisoners of war and displaced persons in private. We arranged our own programme and visited forward areas.
  3. 3. It has become more apparent that the future efficacy of Observers will depend largely on their continued presence throughout the whole area and their ability to visit without undue delay, the places where incidents are reported as taking place. It will also depend on good communications both in the matter of air and ground transport and wireless. These are lacking at the present time. The group is not constituted to be able to follow the method of operation suggested above. We therefore recommend that the organisation of the group should be changed to enable it to have certain of its members permanently on the ground in each divisional sector. We consider this matter to be urgent and would be happy to discuss it with the Federal Government at an early date.

State of the Civil Population

4. We did not see as many Ibos as in the north since a large part of the area is populated by rivers people and minority tribes. Most of the Ibos who were working in places such as Port Harcourt fled with the dissidents. In addition towns like Aba and Owerri are still close to the fighting line. It is the pattern in such areas that the local inhabitants either flee with the dissidents or take to the bush. Very few stay in the fighting zone. Over half the people we saw in camps, either rivers people, Ibos or minority tribes, were in a fair state of health and well cared for but a large number including small children are in a state of malnutrition. It is also apparent that the aid on the ground e.g. army, Red Cross, missionaries etc. does not operate on the same scale as it did in the area of the 1st Division, except in the Calabar area. For example there is great shortage of doctors. We took note of the fact that the Nigerian Red Cross is beginning to operate in the Port Harcourt area. In the Calabar area the co-operation between the army, the Red Cross and the National Rehabilitation Commission seemed excellent. If the numbers coming out of the bush increased as appears to be the case, the army, the civil administration and voluntary agencies could be overwhelmed. At the moment not many Ibos have come out of the bush, but already relief resources are overtaxed.

The Military Situation

5. There has been more fighting on this front than on any other at any rate recently. The divisional commanders primary aim is to defeat his enemy. Therefore every thing else takes second place to this, his main object. This factor has had an effect on the civil population The noise of fighting, heavy expenditure of ammunition, and the aggressive military tactics of the troops appear to have instilled more fear into the Ibo population than is the case on the northern front. The Ibos have therefore been slower to come out of the bush and slower still to return to their villages.

6. The troops are aware of the code of coduct and their military discipline appears good. Their officers are in firm control.

Rehabilitation and Resettlement

7. At present there does not appear to be any overall policy, for resettlement of inhabitants back in their villages, the matter being handed individually by sector commanders. The efficiency of this process varies with the personality and operational task of the individual commander. We believe that there should be an overall policy for resettlement laid down by the divisional commander in conjunction with the civilian administration. Unless people can get back to the villages and to their land a crop will be missed. This will further accentuate the food problem. We suggest that the commander considers declaring areas 10 miles or more behind the fighting line as White or clear of dissidents. Villagers, after rehabilitation in displaced persons camps, should be allowed to return to these areas and restart village life. The forward areas to be declared Red and closed to all civilians on security grounds. When feasible, control of the White areas should be handed over to the civilian administration and in particular to the civil police. This would constitute a visible sign that conditions are returning to normal apart from relieving the military of the responsibility which due to intensive operational activity they are finding hard to execute. We understand teat such a policy is already under active consideration at divisional level.

Relations military/Ibos/Rivers People/Minority Tribes

8. Discussions indicate that the relationship between rivers people, the minority tribes and the Ibos is at present strained, the rivers people and minority tribes appear to have no love for the Ibo. It is reported that they settled many old scores when Federal troops moved in. In Port Harcourt some Ibo leaders are advising their people to stay in displaced persons camps until after the war is over. Their reason for doing so appears to be that if the war is not finished soon and the Federal Forces suffered any reverses, Ibos outside protection camps might be in danger. The Federal Government allows Ibos to remain in these camps if they wish to do so. In Port Harcourt they live as family units.

9. It is impossible for us to generalise as a result of isolated incidents. However we did report to the divisional commander a case of a regimental sergeant major maltreating an Ibo who had been picked up in the front line dressed in civilian clothes, a practice often followed by dissident soldiers before surrender. This practice is said to be the reason why Federal troops are suspicious of all Ibos of military age, however dressed. Despite this, as many of the Federal officers themselves pointed out, Nigeria has to live as one when the war is over and maltreatment of suspected persons is not going to make this task easier.

10. Ibos in displaced persons camps have a healthy respect for the troops but mutual contact appears to be gradually dispelling the fear that has undoubtedly existed. Due to the intensity of military operations contact between villages and the military is less than in 1st Division area and therefore the process of dispelling fear slower.

11. Prisoners of war and internees appear to be in good health. However there are points which should receive early attention by the military commanders: for example the prisoners do not appear to be given any constructive work to do, nor exercise. Accommodation is inadequate. They have little to read and some appear to have been kept in custody unnecessarily. Internees and many Ibo displaced persons have no money and are therefore unable to buy anything to supplement the issue rations. We consider that prisoners, internees and displaced persons who are unable at present to earn their living should be given a small weekly allowance in addition to the initial payment most of them receive. It is also important that a record be kept of money and personal possessions taken from prisoners/internees, so that these can be returned to them when they are released from custody. As is customary the Red Cross should be invited to visit prisoners and internees. These points have been drawn to the attention of the divisional commanders.

Deliberate Destruction of Property

12. We saw evidence of destruction of property particularly in villages along the route of advance Federal Forces. Most of this we assume is the result of the fighting and cannot be ascribed specifically to either side. We did see and hear evidence of looting. From the evidence we have heard we consider that the looting has been carried out by the civilians and the military of both sides.

Deliberate Destruction of Life

13. We neither saw nor heard any evidence of deliberate wholesale destruction of the Ibo people by the Federal Troops. The basis for this statement includes private discussions with a number of educated Ibos who spoke good English. There is evidence that some of the civilians received fairly rough treatment from the troops of both sides and that there is some apprehension among a number of Ibo people now behind the Federal lines. Practically all Ibos testify to the fair treatment they received from officers but some assert that on a number of occasions they have been insulted by other ranks. We therefore consider that selection of army personnel to look after prisoners, internees and displaced persons should be very carefully done. We did see seven dead bodies in Owerri hospital. As these people had been dead for some time and were in an advanced state of decomposition, it is impossible for the Observers to draw any conclusions.

Summary

14. In summary, in the areas of the 3rd Nigerian Marine Commando Division which the Observers visited we found

  1. (a) That we had unrestricted freedom of movement.
  2. (b) Conduct of Federal Troops. The conduct of Federal troops appears to vary between sectors as does their attitude to the civil population. The degree of positive action taken to obtain the confidence of the local Ibos depends at present on the attitude of the sector commander. The troops appear to be under the firm control of their officers.
  3. (c) Conduct of the civilian inhabitants. The rivers people and the minority tribes who are the main inhabitants of the areas visited are returning from the bush in increasing numbers and once out have no fear of Federal troops. Those Ibos who are now behind Federal lines are apprehensive and some, prefer to stay in displaced persons camps where they feel safe rather than return to their homes before the war is over.
  4. (d) Rehabilitation. We believe that a clear policy for allowing people to return to their villages in the rural areas should he put into effect. The policy of declaring Red and White areas could be a solution.
  5. (e) Genocide. There is no evidence supporting the allegations of genocide by the Federal Forces against the Ibo people. There are a number of Ibo people alive and well behind the Federal lines. This speaks for itself. However the majority of the Ibos who lived in the area have not yet returned.
  6. (f) Food and Medical Assistance. The majority of work in this connection is being carried out by the army assisted in the Calabar area by the Nigerian Red Cross, the International Red Cross and the National Rehabilitation Commission. The civil administration is very short of doctors, the Nigerian Red Cross has just arrived in Port Harcourt. This latter constitutes a move 244 in the right direction. The supply of food is adequate but will not remain so unless a more rapid return to villages can be arranged. The supply of drugs and medical assistance varies from sector to sector but overall is inadequate.
  7. (g) Destruction of Property.

Some property, that is houses and public buildings, has been seriously damaged. Such damage as has occurred took place during the fighting in towns and villages behind the roads. The damage was probably inflicted by the armed forces of both sides. There has been considerable looting, some by the dissidents during their retreat, some by the civil population and some by Federal forces. Most property is completely unguarded and it is surprising that more looting has not taken place. Undoubtedly there will be a large amount of movable property within the Ibo heartland once the fighting is over.

It is therefore necessary that strict orders are applied to the troops. There is also a need for civil police to move up behind the forward troops.

  1. (h) Administration. The divisional commander requires to be relieved of administration responsibility in the rear areas.

Future Action

15. (a) It is proposed to make our next visit to the area of the 2nd Nigerian Division.

(b) We would like to discuss a certain reorganisation of the Observer group in order to carry out our future task more efficiently.