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Falana urges Buhari to investigate alleged extra-judicial killings

By Bertram Nwannekanma
27 April 2016   |   3:51 am
A Lagos- based human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order investigations into allegation of unlawful killing of unarmed citizens.
Femi Falana

Femi Falana

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A Lagos- based human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order investigations into allegation of unlawful killing of unarmed citizens across the country by security forces.

Falana in a letter to the President, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian noted that the killings went on in spite of the avowed commitment of the present administration to end the entrenched culture of impunity in the country where there have been reported cases of the gross abuse of human rights of the Nigerian people.

According to him, the extra-judicial execution of criminal suspects by the police and the unlawful killing of unarmed civilians, including women and children by the armed forces in particular, have continued unabated.

He said, among others: “Notwithstanding that the 2015 general elections were successfully conducted, it is on record that scores of people were killed in political clashes in several parts of the country.

“According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), over 100 people were killed in Rivers State alone. The recent re-run legislative elections in the state also witnessed wanton killings and destruction of property. Apart from thugs and militants who have continued to unleash mayhem on innocent people, the Joint Task Force has been indicted in the unlawful killing of members of the public.

“While the Federal Government deserves commendation for the success recorded so far in prosecuting the war on terror, the failure to sanction the army officers and soldiers who engage in the unlawful killings of innocent people in North-East has been condemned by local and international human rights organisations.

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