The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Federal Government to punish perpetrators of human rights violence in the on-going military response to acts of terrorism in Northern Nigeria.
In a letter to the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, HRW argued that serious crimes that violate international human rights law should be excluded from the proposed amnesty package for terrorists. It added that acts of brutal violence masterminded by the Boko Haram Islamist sect against civilians and Christians constitute crimes against humanity under international law and should therefore be duly punished.
“HRW has documented serious human rights abuses carried out by government security forces in response to Boko Haram attacks, including dozens of extrajudicial killings, burning of civilian property, and detention-related abuses,” Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, Mr. Daniel Bekele, said.
“Those responsible for these crimes should also be held to account. Justice for the gravest abuses, whether by Boko Haram or security forces, is essential for victims and building long-term peace in Nigeria.”
According to Bekele, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had announced in 2010 that it opened a preliminary examination of the situation in Nigeria; and by November 2012, the office concluded that there was “reasonable basis to believe” that Boko Haram had committed crimes against humanity.
“The ICC — of which Nigeria is a member — has the authority to intervene when the domestic authorities are unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute serious crimes in violation of international law,” Bekele added.
“International law more generally provides that such crimes should be prosecuted, and rejects amnesty for the gravest crimes,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted HRW as saying on the matter.”
In a related development, the National Human Rights Commission on Monday claimed to be in possession of credible “allegations of gross violations by officials of the JTF (Joint Task Force),” in the form of summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention, rape and so on.
It added that since May’s declaration of a state of emergency in Yobe, borno and Adamawa States, thousands have been forcibly displaced both within Nigeria and beyond while a farming season has been lost, consequently threatening the region with a food security crisis and as well heightening the possibility of a humanitarian crisis.
