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Tag: Amnesty International

  • Nigerian Army deliberately using designed tactics to kill Shiites – Amnesty International

    London-based non-governmental organization focused on human rights, Amnesty International, has condemned the killing of dozens of Shiite protesters by the Nigerian Army.

    Recall that the Shiites were killed in protests in and around Abuja between Saturday and Tuesday.

    The protesters, members of the IMN, apart from embarking on a religious march were also demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

    “It seems the Nigerian military are deliberately using tactics designed to kill when dealing with IMN gatherings,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

    Read the full statement below.

    An investigation by Amnesty International shows that the horrific use of excessive force by soldiers and police led to the killing of at least 45 supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) over two days, as the Shi’a Muslim group held a peaceful religious procession around Abuja.

    Amnesty researchers visited five different locations in Abuja and Nasarawa state where wounded IMN supporters were receiving treatment, including two locations where bodies were deposited. Researchers spoke with victims, eyewitnesses and medical practitioners, and analysed videos and photographs of those injured and killed during the protests, which took place on Saturday and Monday.

    “We have seen a shocking and unconscionable use of deadly force by soldiers and police against IMN members. Video footage and eyewitness testimonies consistently show that the Nigerian military dispersed peaceful gatherings by firing live ammunition without warning, in clear violation of Nigerian and international law,” said Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

    “Those injured were shot in different parts of the body – head, neck, back, chest, shoulder, legs, arms – and some of them had multiple gunshot wounds. This pattern clearly shows soldiers and police approached IMN processions not to restore public order, but to kill.”

    Amnesty International has evidence that the military used automatic firearms during Monday’s protest, in which at least 122 protesters sustained gunshot wounds and at least 39 were killed. At least six people were killed in protests on Saturday.

    The organisation’s research team counted 24 bodies (23 male and one female) and trusted sources provided details of 21 others. Two of the bodies seen had their legs severed, which Amnesty International’s military and weapons expert analyzed as consistent with injuries caused by a heavy fully-automatic machine gun such as a PKM or DShK.

    “It seems the Nigerian military are deliberately using tactics designed to kill when dealing with IMN gatherings. Many of these shootings clearly amount to extrajudicial executions,” said Osai Ojigho.

    “This violent crackdown on IMN protesters is unjustified and unacceptable. They were perfectly within their rights to hold a religious procession and protest and there was no evidence they posed an imminent threat to life.”

    Many injured IMN supporters have sought medical treatment in unofficial buildings due to fear of arrest if they go to hospital.

    One medical worker near Abuja told Amnesty International: “From yesterday (Monday) I attended to 57 people with gunshot wounds, most of them still having the bullets lodged in their bodies. We are only trying to stabilise them by arresting the flow of blood before sending them to hospital. It is not an ideal situation because this is an uncompleted building, not a hospital. I am hoping that they get to hospital today.”

    Since a massacre of over 350 IMN supporters which took place in Zaria in 2015, the Nigerian authorities have consistently sent in the military to respond to IMN protests or marches. This strategy appears to be at least partly to blame for the bloodshed witnessed on Saturday and Monday.

    There are reports that stones were thrown by protesters as a response to the use of lethal force, to which security forces responded with tear gas and more gunfire.

    “We are once again calling on the Nigerian authorities to impartially investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the extrajudicial execution killing of IMN supporters, including the commanders who gave the orders for live bullets to be used,” said Osai Ojigho.

    “The continuous failure to investigate these gross human rights violations is fueling a dangerous disdain for the sanctity of human life in Nigeria.”

    International law is clear that security forces policing demonstrations must not use firearms against protesters unless they pose an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and only if there is no lesser way to avert such threat.

    They must never use firearms to disperse a demonstration, even if it turns violent. Firearms must never be used as a tactical tool for the management of demonstrations: they may only be used for the purpose of saving another life.

    The Nigerian authorities have an obligation under international law to ensure there is a full and independent investigation of deaths at the hands of security forces and that those responsible, including in the command structure of the security forces, are held accountable under criminal law.

     

  • Khashoggi’s death: Amnesty International ‘begs’ AC Milan, Juventus FCs to shun Italian Super Cup in Saudi

    Sequel to the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Amnesty International on Saturday urged football clubs AC Milan and Juventus to shun the Italian Super Cup scheduled to be hosted in Saudi Arabia in January.
     
    “Even before the horrific killing of Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia had a truly appalling human rights record,” said Allan Hogarth, Amnesty International UK’s head of policy.
     
    “Big clubs like Juventus and AC Milan need to understand that their participation in sporting events in the country could be used as a form of ‘sportswashing’,” Hogarth said.
     
    Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist critical of his government, was killed after entering his country’s Istanbul consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee.
     
    “We’d urge these Italian clubs to think twice about the signal this sends out to sports fans across the world and the brave activists who stand up for human rights in Saudi Arabia,” Hogarth said.
     
    Gruesome reports have alleged that Khashoggi’s body was dismembered by a team sent from Saudi Arabia to silence the journalist, whose columns were frequently critical of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
     
    The murder has dealt a serious blow to Saudi Arabia’s image, which Prince Mohammed has sought to improve since his appointment as heir to the throne last year. He has ended a ban on women driving and loosened other restrictions in the kingdom.
     
    The 2018/2019 Italian Super Cup is scheduled for January 2019 in the Saudi capital Riyadh, and pits last year’s Italian Cup winner — Juventus — against the runner-up, AC Milan.
     
     

  • Nigeria must account for victims of enforced disappearances – Amnesty International

    The Nigerian authorities must immediately release thousands of people who have been subjected to enforced disappearance and held in secret detention facilities across the country without charge or trial, Amnesty International said Thursday.

    The day marks International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

    The human rights group said in a statement on Thursday that it was unfortunate that the Nigerian government had used enforced disappearance as a longstanding tactic to silence critics and instil fear in civilian populations facing the double threat of armed groups, including Boko Haram, and military operations against them.

    “So many families are still searching for loved ones who have not been seen for many years. In some cases, families live with the pain of not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead. It’s time the government did the right thing – and either release these detainees or charge them with a recognisable criminal offence in a fair trial without recourse to death penalty,” said Osai Ojigho, Director Amnesty International Nigeria.

    “Some detainees have been held incommunicado for up to nine years or more, without access to family or lawyers. Others have received court judgements ordering their release from custody, but security agencies have continued to defy these court orders,” the statement added.

    It noted one example is the case of journalist Abiri Jones, who was held in State Security Service (SSS, also called DSS) detention for two years without access to family members or lawyers.

    “At the beginning, the government denied detaining him, only to later release him following pressure from civil society organisations. It is unacceptable that many families are going through the same turmoil Abiri’s family went through,” Mr Ojigho said.

    Hundreds of people suspected of belonging to or being associated with Boko Haram and/or its affiliates, the Niger Delta agitators or pro-Biafra activists in the South-east of the country, have been arbitrarily arrested and unlawfully detained by SSS in recent years.

    “Although the new leadership of the DSS has started releasing some detainees, the authorities must ensure that the hundreds of other detainees are quickly released or charged in court.

    “According to figures provided by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), the whereabouts or fate of at least 600 of their members has been unknown since clashes with the military in December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna state. More than 350 people are believed to have been unlawfully killed by the military in the violence.”

    Some of the victims’ families told Amnesty International about their anguish and strong desire for justice, the statement also noted.

    “Across parts of North-east affected by Boko Haram conflict, thousands of detainees have been subjected to enforced disappearance, placing them outside the protection of law. Families of those affected have been left without knowing the fate of their loved ones.

    “We call on the Nigerian government, as a matter of urgency, to end unlawful arrests and incommunicado detentions. Enforced disappearance is an instrument of intimidation that grossly violates human rights. It is unacceptable and must stop.

    “Nigerian authorities must ensure that victims and their families are told the truth and that they are provided with full and effective reparation to address the harm they have suffered,” it added.

  • Amnesty International blames EU over migrant deaths in Mediterranean

    Amnesty International blames EU over migrant deaths in Mediterranean

    The human rights organisation, Amnesty International, in a report released in London on Wednesday blamed the countries of the European Union for the high number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean so far this summer.

    “The EU’s support for the Libyan Coastguard in preventing departures from the North African coast for Europe and turning boats back to Libya is “contributing to rendering the central Mediterranean route more dangerous for refugees and migrants, and rescue at sea unreliable.

    “Some deaths at sea along this perilous route are unavoidable, as long as smugglers force people to travel in unseaworthy and overcrowded boats, with no food, water, safety equipment, or sufficient fuel on board.

    “The recent surge in deaths at sea, however, cannot be dismissed as an inescapable misfortune,” the rights charity said, singling out the new populist government in Rome for special criticism.

    Italy has denied entry to its ports to several boats with rescued migrants on board and has impounded rescue boats belonging to non-governmental organisations.

    Malta has acted similarly.

    This has “rendered the search and rescue system unreliable, unpredictable, and punitive,” Amnesty said.

    While fewer people were managing to reach Europe via the so-called central route to Italy, more were drowning at sea: The UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported a record monthly total of 564 deaths in June and a further 157 in July.

    Across the whole Mediterranean, 1,514 migrants have died making the treacherous sea crossing this year.

    “The refusal to allow disembarkation has left “frail and exhausted rescued people” stranded at sea for days and weeks.

    “This is increasing the risk that distress calls will not be answered and people will be sent back to Libya to face “torture or ill-treatment … in breach of international and European law.

    “The number of people detained in Libyan detention centres has more than doubled from 4,400 in March to over 10,000 by the end of July,’’ Amnesty said, citing the Libyan authorities.

  • 371 killed in Zamfara since January 2018 – AI

    Amnesty International (AI) said at least 371 people were killed since January 2018 and dozens of villages sacked in Zamfara State, as armed bandits hold sway in the state.

    A statement yesterday by the Nigeria spokesman of AI, Isa Sanusi said insecurity was escalating in Zamfara State, with daily killings and kidnappings by armed bandits leaving villagers in constant fear of attacks.

    He said thousands of people have been displaced by a conflict, which began in 2012 as a result of clashes between farmers and herders.

    Sanusi quoted the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho as saying, “This is Nigeria’s forgotten conflict. The authorities’ failure to act has left villagers in Zamfara at the mercy of armed bandits, who have killed hundreds of people over the course of two bloody years.

    “When we visited the region, villagers told us that they had pleaded with the government to help them after receiving warning letters from the bandits ahead of attacks but had received no protection.

    “The Nigerian authorities have repeatedly claimed to be tackling the situation, but the mounting death toll tells a different story,” Ojigho said.

    AI said on Friday July 27, 18 villages in the Mashema, Kwashabawa and Birane districts of Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state were attacked, leaving at least 42 people dead.

    At least 18,000 residents of the affected villages, who were displaced over the weekend were taking refuge at various locations in the local government headquarters, the following day a further 15 people were kidnapped in Maradun local government area.

    He said “Previous military interventions have failed to end the killings, especially in rural areas of Zamfara.”

    He said at least 238 of the killings took place after the deployment of the Nigerian Air Force.

  • Amnesty International report on Nigerian security agencies biased, misleading – Presidency

    The Presidency says the recent report released by the Amnesty International alleging human rights violation by Nigerian security agencies is inherently battling with credibility, falling vehemently short of evidential narration.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this position known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    According to the presidential aide, the report is short on credibility because it does not contain factual leads that could have laid the foundation for investigative actions.

    He noted that findings were attributed to people but proper description of such people constituting the source of information was not provided.

    “Engagement was claimed to have been made with Nigerian authorities but which authority is it, is not provided with clarity.

    “This then is just a wild goose chase report, in essence.

    “In some breath, the report seemed like the one in 2015, and the one in 2016, and the one after that year, the same things being recycled again and again.

    “It ignores the fact of the existing mechanisms put in place by the military, as a self-correcting step and the high-level committee constituted by the Presidency to examine any such claims,’’ he further noted.

    Shehu observed that over this period of time, the Nigerian military had indeed established cases of abuse and punishments meted out from Orderly Room trials and Court Martials that resulted in losses of rank, dismissals, and trials and convictions by civil courts.

    He quoted President Buhari during his recent joint press conference with President Trump at the White House to further buttress his points as saying: “the government of Nigeria remains deeply committed to the principles of human rights, as well as promotion and protection of people’s freedom, even in the process of fighting terror.

    ‘’We commit to ensure that all documented cases of human rights abuses are investigated, and those responsible for violation held responsible.”

    The 2017/2018 Reports of the Amnesty International on Nigeria had alleged that the Nigerian military “arbitrarily arrested and held thousands of young men, women and children in detention centres around the country.

    The report alleged that detainees were denied access to lawyers and family members.

    While allegedly accusing the Nigerian army of various atrocities at Internally Displaced Persons camp in the North East region of the country, the Report also acknowledged that the army released 593 detainees in April and 760 in October 2017.

    It also stated that the armed group, Boko Haram, had continued to carry out attacks, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

    It said: “Reports continued of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture and other ill-treatment, which, in some cases, led to deaths in custody. Conditions in military detention were harsh.

    “Communal violence occurred across the country. Thousands of people were forcibly evicted from their homes.’’

    However, authorities of the Nigerian army had since reacted to the Report by dismissing it, and accused the Amnesty International of deliberately attempting to tarnish the good image of the army.

  • Breaking: 5 Adamawa villages under attack, death toll undisclosed

    Five Adamawa villages, all in Numan local government, are reportedly under “attacks right now” by suspected herdsmen, and the number of casualties is yet to be known.

    TheNewsGuru reports Amnesty International Nigeria made this known stressing it had notified the army and police authorities in Adamawa, but no intervention as at the time of filing this report.

    “Amnesty International Nigeria is deeply concerned about attacks right now on going on the following villages: Nega, Bang, Gon, Bolki, and Nzumosu in Adamawa state Nigeria.

    “Amnesty International Nigeria is deeply concerned about the inability of security forces to rein in the attackers in Adamawa.

    “Amnesty International notified the army and police authorities in Adamawa state today in the morning but is surprised to learn that the attacks are still ongoing.

    “Amnesty International Nigeria calls on the state authorities to deploy police to protect the affected villages immediately and Nigerian Police to begin an investigation into the conduct of the security forces in these latest attacks,” the Organization disclosed.

     

  • Turkey uses state of emergency to ‘shrink’ opposition, says Amnesty

    Turkey needs to stop using its ongoing state of emergency as justification for locking up human rights activists, journalists and civil society leaders, Amnesty International said in a report released on Thursday.

    “The Turkish government continues to use the state of emergency to shrink the space for dissenting or alternative views,” read the report, titled “Weathering the Storm.’’

    Turkey has been under a state of emergency since July 20, 2016, days after members of the military launched an ill-fated coup.

    Since then, according to the report, more than 107,000 public sector employees have lost their jobs and more than 100,000 people have faced criminal investigations.

    More than 50,000 remain imprisoned awaiting trial.

    Turkish President Recep Erdogan has long blamed former ally and self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen for the coup attempt, a charge which Gulen denies.

    Many of those forced out of work or facing charges have been accused of having ties to Gulen.

    But Amnesty noted that many of them had no ties to Gulen and were merely activists or journalists demanding accountability or democracy.

    “It is time for Turkey to lift the current state of emergency and the draconian measures that came with it that go beyond legitimate measures to combat threats to national security, before there is no independent, critical civil society left in Turkey,” read the report.

    Two of those under investigation are leaders of Amnesty’s Turkey division, Taner Kilic and Idil Eser.
    Eser is free awaiting trial, but Kilic has been in detention for nearly a year.

     

  • Buhari govt reacts to Amnesty International incriminating report [FULL STATEMENT]

    The President Muhammadu Buhari government has reacted to Amnesty International incriminating report.

    TheNewsGuru reports Amnesty International accused the Buhari administration of 15-count wrongdoing.

    However, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has issued a press release signed by Brigadier General John Agim, Acting Director Defence Information, disputing the Amnesty International report, and stressing the report is “largely unsubstantiated”.

    Read the full press release below:

    RE: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT ON ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE BY THE NIGERIAN MILITARY

    The recent report released by Amnesty International (AI) on 22 February 2018 alleging human rights violations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), is a gross disservice to the nation’s high security command.

    The action of AI seem to be geared towards weakening the efforts of the AFN at ensuring peace and security in the country.

    It has been observed that AI has made it a routine duty to continue generating tension among the citizens by releasing unconfirmed reports, unsubstantiated claims and figures relating to military counter-insurgency operations and wanton killings by unknown groups or persons.

    It is pertinent to re-iterate that the AFN as a responsible institution, financed by taxpayers, is bound to respond to these allegations in order to put the records in proper perspective.

    The AI allegations of human rights violations and extra judicial killing of civilians by the AFN have followed a specific trend for some time now.

    It could be noted that the organization’s allegations made against the AFN since 2011 to date are largely unsubstantiated.

    The figures released by the organization showed that 4,900 Boko Haram detainees were held in Giwa Barracks in an overcrowded facility where 340 detainees had already died of diseases and dehydration.

    They further stated that 164 civilians were killed by the Nigerian Air Force when an IDP camp was hit at Rann by a Nigerian Air Force fighter Jet and also that 12 IPOB members were killed in Umuahia by the AFN.

    Unfortunately, AI have failed to acknowledge the on-going fair trial and conviction of culpable members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect and the release of those not found guilty.

    The number of persons released and re-integrated with the larger community is over 500. Both the convicted and freed suspects were earlier arrested from different locations across the country and taken to Kainji, a place that is relatively safer with enough space to accommodate them while providing the detainees with 3 square meals daily. The suspects were also given proper medical attention by military medical team attached to the detention facility.

    It is notable that the arrested Boko Haram members from the ongoing OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE were being tried by the Federal High Court at Wawa Cantonment Kainji since Friday 16 February 2018 convicting 205 detainees to various jail terms while 526 suspects have been freed for want of evidence.

    Other sins of the Nigerian Government as captured by the AI in its report include infringing the rights of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and transgender as well as intersex persons. These AI championed rights have been strictly outlawed by Laws of the Federation of Nigeria subsuming the Nigerian constitution as well as the cultural practices of our people. This position of AI, clearly show slack of respect for the constitution of Nigeria which these laws have become part.

    Let it be known that the Nigerian Government and its people are not ready and would never be, even in future, to please AI or anyone with the introduction of such things. However, if AI feels strongly against the position of the Nigerian people on this issue and wants to assist the ‘victims’, they could issue these class of people with green cards to enable them re-locate to other places across the world that accept such practices as it may not be necessary for them to remain Nigerians.

    Generally, the authenticity and sources of figures generated by AI are worrisome. Regrettably, the military high commands were never contacted for clarification or guidance. The Defence Headquarters on its own made concerted efforts to meet with the country management of AI to discuss related issues without success, as they had consistently failed to show up.

    This reaction of AI connotes that the body in Nigeria could had been sponsored to frustrate conflict resolution efforts towards peace and positive development of the nation. The deliberate falsehood peddled by AI could cast the nation and its security apparatus in bad light. Meanwhile, AI does not seem to see anything wrong about the insurgents’ activities and known criminals until security agencies rise to the occasion of effectively containing their actions.

    It could be noted that anytime the AFN has reasonable assurances of getting military hardware and or expendables to further its operations or are recording remarkable successes, the AI as an organization would come forward with falsehood to weep up anti-Nigerian sentiments within the international community. These are evident in the AI reports from 2011 to date.

    Such reports had made in roads to the US congress a couple of years back leading to the invocation of Leahy Law against Nigeria at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency. The current report could have been ill-conceived to frustrate the on-going US-Nigerian anti-terrorism cooperation.

    It could then be posited that the aim of AI in Nigeria is to cripple the country’s security apparatus through cheap blackmail in order to hold back necessary collaboration. The AFN has both constitutional and moral responsibility to protect Nigerian Citizens and cannot suddenly engage in mass murder as portrayed by AI.

    The AI reports are at variance with and do not reconcile the information we are collecting from the field on daily basis making these sources suspect.

    This is to inform the Nigerian public and the International Community that the AFN exhibit professionalism in its operations. Therefore, it is not proper an organization in the class of AI to incite the Nigerian public and the international community against them. Currently, the AFN is bringing sanity to security challenges in the North East and other parts of country.

    The Nigerian Military does not in any way condone indiscipline or breach of set regulations, let alone want on killing of citizens or destruction of property. It is worthy to note that, the AFN regularly collaborate with the International Committee of Red Cross on training of personnel on laws of armed conflict and International humanitarian law. Troops of the AFN are guided by Rules of engagement and Standing Operational Procedures which are explicit on how to conduct operations.

    It is also worthy to note that, since 2015 the military high command have introduced training of troops in Human Rights and Laws of Armed Conflict. These are compulsory courses in all AFN institutions which are yielding with positive results. The AI is therefore requested to liaise with the Defence Headquarters for clarification on any matter regarding military operations before putting up inaccurate reports.

    Such reports are also capable of hurting the reputation of AI itself which would not be the best for the society in terms of accountability. The Nigerian public and international community are hereby requested to disregard the current Amnesty report, keep faith and confidence in the AFN.

    John Agim

    Brigadier General

    Acting Director Defence Information

     

  • Boko Haram detainees get 3 square meals daily, Amnesty International report unsubstantiated – AFN

    The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has reacted to Amnesty International incriminating report that accused the Nigerian Armed Forces of unlawful killings, saying the report is “largely unsubstantiated”.

    In a statement by Brigadier General John Agim, Acting Director Defence Information, the Nigerian Armed Forces said that contrary to the report of torture by Amnesty International, Boko Haram detainees were actually fed three square meals daily.

    “The figures released by the organization showed that 4,900 Boko Haram detainees were held in Giwa Barracks in an overcrowded facility where 340 detainees had already died of diseases and dehydration.

    “They further stated that 164 civilians were killed by the Nigerian Air Force when an IDP camp was hit at Rann by a Nigerian Air Force fighter Jet and also that 12 IPOB members were killed in Umuahia by the AFN.

    “Unfortunately, AI have failed to acknowledge the on-going fair trial and conviction of culpable members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect and the release of those not found guilty.

    “The number of persons released and re-integrated with the larger community is over 500. Both the convicted and freed suspects were earlier arrested from different locations across the country and taken to Kainji, a place that is relatively safer with enough space to accommodate them while providing the detainees with 3 square meals daily.

    “The suspects were also given proper medical attention by military medical team attached to the detention facility,” Brigadier General Agim said.