Plateau attacks: SERAP writes Human Rights Council to investigate killings
- A Socio-Economic Rights group has expressed concern over the spate of killings across Nigeria
- The group has written an open letter to the UN Human Rights Council to assume its responsibility by doing something about it
- It urged the council to demand that authorities in Nigeria put an end to the killings
Following the spate of killings in Plateau and other states across Nigeria, an open letter has been written to the UN Human Rights Council by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Vanguard reports that the group urged the council to demand that the Nigerian authorities urgently end the incessant killings and attacks.
Legit.ng gathers that the group wants the Nigerian authorities to identify suspected perpetrators, their supporters and sponsors, by conducting thorough, impartial and independent investigations and bring them to justice.
The letter dated June 26, 2018 and signed by SERAP deputy director, Timothy Adewale, reads in part: “The proposed measures are necessary because several calls by Nigerians asking the Nigerian authorities to end the killings and attacks have largely gone unheeded for far too long.
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"The Human Rights Council cannot ignore persistent attacks and killings of Nigerians and residents. If the Human Rights Council does not assume its responsibility and give voice to the victims, it would exacerbate the impunity of perpetrators; continue to hide their victims; and deepen the invisibility of the killings and attacks to the comity of nations.
“The Human Rights Council should invite the high commissioner for Human Rights, the UN secretary-general and special procedure mandate-holders, including the special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and the special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to brief it during the special session.
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“The Human Rights Council should request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently appoint a group of independent experts to monitor, verify and report on the ongoing killings and attacks on innocent Nigerians and residents across many states of Nigeria, most recently in Plateau and Benue states, with relevant expertise in mass atrocity prevention, as well as in combating retaliatory attacks, with a view to making recommendations on preventing atrocities, combating farmers and herdsmen crisis, and improving the safety and security of all citizens and residents, as well as achieving accountability for the killings and attacks."
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that about 120 people were reported to have been killed in an attack by armed men in Plateau state on Saturday, June 23.
The claim was made by the pastor in charge of Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) Regional Church Council (RCC) Rop in Barkin Ladi local government area.
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Source: Legit.ng
