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Tag: Amnesty International

  • Nigerian government empowers SARS to maltreat young Nigerians – Amnesty Int’l

    Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian Government of empowering officers of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to maltreat Nigerians by not holding any of them accountable.

    It said despite passing the anti-torture bill in 2017, there is continous evidence SARS operatives continue to use torture and other ill-treatment to execute, punish and extract information from suspects.

    AI added that SARS officers have turned their duty to protect Nigerians into an opportunity for extortion and stealing money, property and other valuables belonging to suspects and their families.

    The organisation stated this in its report, ‘Time to end Impunity, Amnesty International documents at least 82 cases of torture, ill treatment and extra-judicial execution by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.’

    It said Nigerian authorities must go beyond lip service and ensure there is real reform.

    AI, in a statement by its Media Manager, Isa Sanusi alleged: “The Nigerian authorities have failed to prosecute a single officer from the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), despite anti-torture legislation passed in 2017 and evidence that its members continue to use torture and other ill-treatment to execute, punish and extract information from suspects.”

    “Nigerians are outraged by the impunity with which SARS perpetrates horrific human rights violations.

    “The complete failure of Nigerian authorities to bring an end to the gross human rights violations perpetuated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad or to bring any SARS officer to justice is shocking and unacceptable. Nigerians are outraged by the systemic human rights violations perpetrated by the SARS with impunity,” said Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

    “The systemic use of torture and other ill treatment by SARS officers for police investigations and the continued existence of torture chambers within the Nigerian Police Force points to an absolute disregard for international human rights laws and standards.”

    AI added: “Amnesty International’s investigation reveals a disturbing pattern of abuse of detainees in SARS custody despite the 2017 Anti-Torture Act.

    “In many cases, Amnesty International bore witness to the scars, bruises, and dried blood on victims’ bodies. Many of them were subjected to beatings with sticks and machetes and denied medical care.

    “The findings of this report also show that these horrific violations were carried out under the supervision of high-ranking police officers.

    “Pervasive torture and other ill-treatment remain routine practice during SARS’ daily operations and at its detention centres.

    “One of the officers used an exhaust pipe to hit me on my teeth, breaking my teeth.

    “Miracle, 23 In March 2017, 23-year-old Miracle was arrested and detained by SARS officers in Neni, Anambra State, southeast Nigeria, accused of the theft of a laptop. He was tortured and given hardly any food during the 40 days he was in detention before he was charged and brought before a court.

    “…their leader directed them to go and hang me. They took me to the back of the hall and tied me with ropes. Then they started using all manner of items to beat me, including machetes, sticks, inflicting me with all kinds of injuries. One of the officers used an exhaust pipe to hit me on my teeth, breaking my teeth. I was left on that hanger for more than three hours…”

    “In October 2018, 24-year-old Sunday Bang, an amateur boxer was arrested in his home in Abuja, by SARS officers and accused of robbery. He was held in detention for 5 weeks without access to family, lawyers or medical care – and was not charged in court. While in SARS detention, he suffered bone fractures and other injuries due to torture and other ill treatment.

    “No circumstances whatsoever may be invoked as a justification of torture. In many cases the victims are the poor and vulnerable, easy targets for law enforcement officers whose responsibility it is to protect them,” said Osai Ojigho.

    “From extortion to stealing money and property Across Nigeria, SARS officers have turned their duty to protect Nigerians into an opportunity for extortion and stealing money, property and other valuables belonging to suspects and their families. Since 2016, Amnesty International has documented 15 cases where SARS officers arbitrarily confiscated suspects’ property.

    “Young people between the ages of 17 and 30 are most at risk of arrest, torture or extortion by SARS. They are often accused of being internet fraudsters and/or armed robbers. Young men with dreadlocks, ripped jeans, tattoos, flashy cars or expensive gadgets are frequently targeted by SARS.”

  • JUST IN: Amnesty International working for terror groups in Nigeria – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters has accused Amnesty International (AI) of deliberately supporting the acts of terrorism perpetrated against Nigeria by the Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African State (ISWAP) terror groups.

    Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General

    Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, cautioned the group to put an end to its reckless distortion of facts in its bid to satisfy “its puppeteers by undermining Nigeria’s Military campaign against terrorism in the North East”.

    According to the statement: “The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has taken cognizance of yet another falsified report by Amnesty International (AI) in a campaign of calumny targeting the Nigerian Military and deliberately supporting the callous acts of terrorism perpetuated by Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP).

    “This inglorious campaign is contained in a recent report alleging employment of unlawful tactics of razing down villages and unlawful detention of locals by troops. This is line with the AIs usual mannerism and tenacious efforts aimed at disparaging the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

    “The Defence Headquarters wishes to state unambiguously that the allegations being touted by AI are nothing but a betrayal of its lack of in-depth knowledge of the goings-on in the North East (NE) theatre of operation”.

    It continued: “It is expedient to state that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole who are conducting Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Operations in the NE do not employ arson as an operational tactic. It is a well-known fact, going by the modus operandi of BHTs, that they have more often than not engaged in the atrocious acts of looting and burning of villages, as well as destroying infrastructures.

    “It therefore, beats ones imagination that AI is attributing these atrocities to AFN troops who are legitimately defending the country guided by extant rules of engagement and operational codes of conduct.

    “AI must understand the fact that Nigeria is at war against terrorism in the NE and that the troops have a constitutional mandate to protect lives and property, even if it means conducting an evacuation to save and secure lives of civilians in the conflict. Protecting civilians by evacuating them from the line of fire during combat is not a violation of the international law of conflict or a war crime.

    “It is rather a commendable effort by the troops to prevent collateral damage during combat. Our troops should therefore be commended for making deliberate efforts to evacuate civilians in order to protect their lives and property.

    “It is also crucial to point out, that troops deployed to fight terrorism in the NE do not attack or raze down villages, communities or settlements, rather they launch offensive on terrorists’ camps, enclaves and hide outs.

    “Based on actionable intelligence, persons who provide logistics and other forms of support to the terrorists are arrested and subjected to thorough investigation by a combined team of professionals drawn from the intelligence community of the Armed Forces and other security agencies. Anyone not found culpable is not held in custody for further investigations.

    “AI must therefore put an end to its reckless distortion of facts in its desperate bid to satisfy its puppeteers by undermining Nigeria’s Military campaign against terrorism in the NE.

    “We urge members of the public to please discountenance AIs report, as it is not a true and realistic reflection of troops’ counter terrorism operation in the NE”

  • Boko Haram: Group fingers Fortune, Amnesty International as forces behind plots to blackmail Nigerian military

    Boko Haram: Group fingers Fortune, Amnesty International as forces behind plots to blackmail Nigerian military

    The Coalition for Human Rights Monitoring Groups in Nigeria (CHRMGN) has fingered British journalist, Conor Fortune and Amnesty International to be behind a new sponsored plot to blackmail the Nigerian military in the war against terrorism.

    Fortune, a supposed human rights and conflict resolution writer who is also AI’s Deputy Director of Communications, External Affairs and Crisis Response, has in recent times propagated falsehood against the Nigerian troops.

    At a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the human rights group raised an alarm to the global community about the latest gimmick deployed by Amnesty International.

    According to convener Gabriel Agibi, Fortune is the new tool deployed to promote fallacy with his misleading report which appears to act as a bait for luring marks for recruitment of terrorists.

    Like time past, the group revealed that Amnesty International only indicts the hardworking military on non-existent allegations while staying mute on the atrocities committed by the terrorists.

    With reference to the fictitious report, the Coalition for Human Rights Monitoring Groups in Nigeria, therefore, condemned in its entirety as irresponsible advocacy that places the interest of terrorists above the safety of law-abiding citizens and defenceless civilians who are being protected by a patriotic military in Nigeria.

    It further urged the international community to step in and order a stop to this harassment of the Nigerian state and its institutions. (more…)

  • ICC Investigation In Nigeria Now Certain –Amnesty International

    The ICC prosecutor said it is losing patience with the failure of the Nigerian Government to examine and prosecute those responsible for crimes committed by different insurgent groups in the country.

    Amnesty International has invited the International Criminal Court to immediately begin an investigation into crimes being committed by the Nigeria Government.

    AI, while reacting to the publication of the annual report of the Prosecutor of the ICC on preliminary examinations, which sets out the work of the ICC over the last year looking at countries around the world where crimes may have been committed to decide whether to open investigations, Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director, said that an ICC investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict in North-East Nigeria is now inevitable.

    The ICC had released its 2019 report on preliminary examinations.

    The ICC prosecutor said it is losing patience with the failure of the Nigerian Government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for crimes committed by different insurgent groups in the country.

    AI, stressing the need for investigation in Nigeria, lamented that the government was not keen on delivering justice.

    Belay said, “The prosecutor has also confirmed that she will make a final decision in 2020 on whether to proceed to investigate specific crimes.

    “Should Nigerian authorities fail to demonstrate tangible steps to fulfil their obligations, she will be bound to proceed towards a full investigation.

    “Victims have been waiting for justice for over 10 years. Nigeria has already demonstrated that it is not willing to investigate and prosecute those responsible for heinous crimes committed by all parties to the conflict in the North-East.

    “The ICC should have already launched an investigation but there can be no doubt that the time will come in 2020 for the ICC to step up to its role as the court of last resort.”

     

  • Drop all charges against Sowore, others arrested for exercising freedom of speech, AI tells Buhari

    Amnesty International (AI), on Friday, called on President Buhari’s governance to drop all charges against Omoyele Sowore, convener of the RevolutionNow Movement after his release from the custody of the Department of the State Service.

    Less than 24 hours after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered the release of detained Sowore, the Department of the State Service DSS, complied with the Judge’s order. Sowore was released along with his co-accused Olawale Bakare around 7:15 pm last night.

    They were released to their lead counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN Mr. Femi Falana.

    Reacting, Amnesty International called on Buhari’s government to drop all charges against Sowore and his accomplices. The rights group added that Sowore was detained for exercising his freedom of expression hence all charges should be dropped against him.

    AI on its verified Twitter page wrote: “Amnesty International welcomes the release of Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare. We again call on authorities to drop all charges against them. We are also calling for the release of Agba Jalingo. All of them were detained solely for exercising their freedom of expression.”

  • We are open to amicable working relationship with Nigeria -Amnesty International

    Global human rights group, Amnesty International, has expressed readiness to discard all misgivings and forge a harmonious working relationship with Nigerian authorities.

    Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Ojigho said that the organisation had a standing invitation to the Nigerian authorities of its readiness to honour an invitation to discuss and resolve all grey areas.

    “Amnesty Nigeria has a standing invitation to the Nigerian authorities that we are open to discuss with them whenever they call on us.

    “We believe that these misunderstandings have come as a result of lack of clarity on the role Amnesty International plays.

    ” We are a watchdog, so to speak, we monitor, we document, we report; our role, essentially is to make government see those things that oftentimes attention is not drawn to.

    “We are also solution oriented, we give recommendations in our interventions and we understand that there is need for constant dialogue,” she said.

    She said that having regular contacts would help clarify the issues that the Nigerian authorities had with Amnesty International.

    Ojigho observed that certain vulnerable individuals who were scared of the authorities unusually took their concerns to the organisation for intervention.

    ” If there are violation of rights, Amnesty International will speak about it,” she said.

    Meanwhile, Ojigho who spoke on the sidelines of a workshop on women, youth and security said that the organisation was committed to seeing the involvement of women in Nigeria’s security architecture.

    ‘The role of Amnesty International is to contribute to discussions around women, peace and security in Nigeria.

    “We are every much involved to see a peace and security architecture that is country owned and that involves all the beneficiaries.

    ” Oftentimes, women voices are absent in the discussions; women are not represented in the decision making process,” she said.

    She urged government to accommodate women in whatever decision it was taking to prevent or resolve conflicts and to rehabilitate victims of conflicts.

    The workshop was organised by Women’s Rights Advancement Protection Alternative (WRAPA) with support from the British government

  • Kano Supplementary Poll: Investigate attack on voters, journalists, AI tells FG

    Kano Supplementary Poll: Investigate attack on voters, journalists, AI tells FG

    Human rights group, Amnesty International, has called on the Nigerian government to investigate the violent attack on voters and journalists during the supplementary governorship election in Kano State on Saturday.

    The group made the demand in a message posted on Twitter on Wednesday.

    “Amnesty International is calling Nigerian authorities @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo to investigate allegations of widespread violence & intimidation unleashed on voters and journalists during Saturday’s re-run election in Kano.

    “The unprecedented violence in Kano also led to fatalities,” the group said through its Twitter handle@AmnestyNigeria.

    There were reports of widespread violence during the supplementary election in Kano.

    One report said some journalists covering the elections escaped being lynched by suspected thugs at Suntulma Primary School in Gama ward, Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

    Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won the election. But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the election result.

    Several groups, including the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), said the election was characterised by violence and other irregularities.

    “Extensive electoral security problems were observed in some areas, with groups of men with weapons intimidating and obstructing the process, and security agencies ineffective at protecting citizens’ right to vote,” the EU said in its report.

    “In particular, parts of Kano were largely inaccessible to EU observers, and citizen observers and journalists were also obstructed. EU observers also witnessed increased interference by party agents and cases of vote-buying.”

  • Amnesty urges FG to investigate alleged cases of political thuggery in Kano supplementary election

    Amnesty International has urged Federal Government to investigate alleged cases of political thuggery and violence on journalists and electorate during the supplementary election conducted in Kano State.

    Isa Sanusi, the Amnesty International Spokesperson, made the call in an interview with BBC Hausa service, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu, Yobe.

    “Amnesty International condemns the human rights violation during supplementary election exercise conducted in Kano especially on journalists and electorates.

    “We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to lunch an investigation into the issue.

    “Extensive electoral security problems were observed in some areas, with groups of men with weapons intimidating and obstructing the process, and security agencies ineffective at protecting citizens’ right to vote.”

    NAN reports that supplementary governorship elections were conducted in Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto — where results from the March 9 initial ballot were declared inconclusive as the margin of victory was less than the cancelled votes.

    INEC on Sunday declared Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress winner of the governorship supplementary election.

    NAN reports that the European Union Election Observation Mission on Monday said that it witnessed organised violence and intimidation of voters during Saturday’s rerun in parts of Kano, Bauchi and Benue States.

    Specifically, the Mission said police and party leaders failed to prevent attacks on electoral officials by youth gangs armed with clubs and machetes in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State which accounted for one-third of all registered voters for the supplementary governorship election.

    The EU EOM in a statement on the supplementary poll, stated that its observers could not access many polling units in Kano due to security concerns.

  • #ArewaMeToo activist Maryam Awaisu regains freedom

    One of the leading campaigners of #ArewaMeToo, an online campaign against sexual violence, Maryam Awaisu has been released by the police after she was arrested in her office in Kaduna by men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Recall that Amnesty International, on Tuesday, demanded the ‘immediate and unconditional’ release from police custody, activist and writer, Maryam Awaisu.

    In a statement shared on its website, Amnesty International revealed that Awaisu was arrested in her office in Kaduna by “a convoy of officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad,” who took her to their Abuja office.

    Awaisu had been championing the trending hashtag, #ArewaMeToo on Twitter, which details the experiences of Twitter users with sexual assaults.

    The Director, Amnesty International, Osai Ojigho said, “Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Maryam Aiwasu who has done nothing more than speaking up for women’s rights. Her arrest appears to be an attempt to intimidate and harass both her and other women supporting #ArewaMeToo – a movement seeking justice for victims of sexual violence in Nigeria.

    “While arresting Maryam, the police attempted to gain access to her laptop and mobile phone by force; this is clearly an effort to access the sensitive evidence she and other human rights defenders have been gathering to seek justice for victims of sexual violence.

    “Maryam and the other brave human rights defenders working with the #ArewaMeToo movement must not be silenced or punished for the vital work they do. For too long, Nigeria’s women have been facing various kinds of sexual violence that seldom receives proper attention from the country’s law enforcement agencies. It is unacceptable that women working on behalf of these victims are subjected to such arrest and intimidation, and we fear that these actions may prevent victims of sexual violence from pursuing justice.”

    After her release, see Amnesty International’s tweet:

  • Fulani groups accuse Buhari’s govt of neglect, say no preferred presidential candidate

    Fulani groups accuse Buhari’s govt of neglect, say no preferred presidential candidate

    Coalition of Fulani herdsmen groups in Nigeria have dissociated themselves from some Fulani unions’ endorsement of a particular presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections.

    They described the endorsement as dangerous noting that their associations were social, non political and none partisan aimed at uplifting Fulani interests.

    Alhaji Saleh Bayari, leader of the coalition made this known at a National Delegates meeting of coalition of Fulani Associations from 36 states of the federation and the FCT held in Sokoto on Sunday.

    The groups said the endorsement was not in the interest of the generality of Fulani herdsmen as neither consultations nor meetings were held prior to the decision.

    The associations directed their members to disregard the endorsement and elect any candidate of their choice as guaranteed by the constitution.

    It also reminded herdsmen to consider the credibility and suitability of candidates as well as the leader that has regard and concerns with their plights.

    According to the groups, about 17 million pastoralists are in Nigeria and that while government disburses subsidy and support to farmers, herdsmen obtained nothing in past four years.

    The coalition accused the Federal Government of not doing enough for Fulani herdsmen in recognition that they were marginalised in the present disbursement of Tradermoni scheme and others.

    The groups alleged that the present administration had neglected them on agricultural support schemes, concentrating mostly on grain, poultry and fish farming.

    The groups further explained that the meeting was organised to exchange thoughts and ideas and possible ways of librating the Fulani herdsmen to come out to speak with one tongue.

    They also said the laws banning cattle grazing were unconstitutional that violated human rights while noting that the moves to establish cattle ranches and colonies were yet to come to reality.

    The coalition further stated that President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar are all Fulani men and urged members to elect who showed concerns on pastoralists’ plights and their economic development as well as engaged on “Ruga to Ruga” consultation campaign.

    In the communiqué read by Bayari at end of the event, the coalition commended Amnesty International 2018 report that said about 3,641 persons lost their lives in farmers/headsmen conflicts in Nigeria.

    Bayari appealed to the Federal Government to grant unconditional amnesty to their members detained over various crimes allegations in the country.

    He said the federal government should consider amnesty to Fulani people accused of crimes as it was done to agitators in the oil rich Niger Delta region.

    “About 3,000 Fulani clans are in detention at different security formations in the country.

    “Poverty, neglect and poor treatment among fellow Nigerians are mostly causes that forced those accused persons to engage in dastardly acts,” Bayari said.

    He explained that about 2,500 pastoralists were killed while 3.7 million livestock were either killed or rustled from the herdsmen at various states of the federation, the situation that subjected members to untold hardships.

    He pointed out that granting them amnesty would allow leaders to unite their fellows and partner with authorities to sanction any member found engaging in any unlawful activities.