Boko Haram must account for years of atrocities, says Amnesty Int’l
• CSOs, Falana urge end to harassment of rights group
Amnesty International (AI), yesterday, said Boko Haram must be held to account for its years of atrocities, including war crimes, committed against Nigerians. As the rights group is making its case, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), condemned the harassment and threat of legal action against Amnesty International Nigeria (AIN).
Also, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately end the alleged harassment and threats directed at the rights group.
The Director, AIN, Isa Sanusi, said this while responding to the killing of more than 40 civilians by Boko Haram during an attack on farming communities in Borno State on January 12.
The group strongly condemned the execution of the civilians, which, it stressed, showed Boko Haram’s utter disregard for the sanctity of human life and the rules of international humanitarian law.
Sanusi said: “Boko Haram must be held to account for its years of atrocities, including war crimes. Our findings show that Boko Haram rounded up the farmers and fishermen, separated the men and shot them at close range. Those who attempted to flee were pursued and killed while dozens more were injured.”
A search for dead bodies is still ongoing while a mass burial is being planned for those killed.”
“Boko Haram continues to abduct women and extensively loot property. The fact that such atrocities remain commonplace shows that more needs to be done to protect civilians and ensure that families of victims receive reparation and justice.”
Since 2020, Boko Haram has been targeting farmers around the Lake Chad.
FALANA, in a statement yesterday, condemned “the intimidation and harassment against Amnesty International” simply for doing their legitimate work.
According to him, the police must immediately end the intimidation and harassment.The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had, through its letter of January 6, 2025, demanded an immediate retraction and public apology regarding a publication entitled ‘Nigeria: Bloody August: Nigerian government’s violent crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests’.
The publication in question, which includes numerous unsubstantiated claims, according to the police, falsely accuses NPF of human rights violations, brutality and excessive violence during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.
It added, “The police categorically reject these baseless allegations, affirming that the claims are entirely false and without foundation.’” Responding, Falana said the threat of legal action against Amnesty, simply for publishing its factual report about the allegations of police brutality during the #EndBadGovernance protests amounted to an act of reprisal, harassment and intimidation.
According to him, the reprisal, harassment and intimidation of AIN will foster a climate of fear and prevent other civil society organisations, activists, human rights defenders, other Nigerians and media outlets from exercising their rights freely and safely.
IN a joint statement, yesterday, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) and 64 others raised concern about the intimidation, harassment and threat against AIN by the police.
They called on Tinubu’s administration to end the escalating crackdown on activists, human rights, journalists and other Nigerians simply for peacefully exercising their rights.
“We note that the NPF, in a letter dated January 6, 2025, threatened Amnesty International with a purported legal action over the organisation’s recent report.
“We also note that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported that the police killed 27 protesters, while about 800 people were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country in August 2024. Several protesters were reportedly detained without charges or trial,” the CSOs stated. “We call on the Tinubu administration to immediately take measures to ensure a conducive environment where CSOs, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and other Nigerians will feel safe to carry out their work and exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”
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