Zeid calls for justice for rights abuses in Nigeria
GENEVA (5 June 2015) – UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Friday said interviews with individuals who had
fled or were rescued from towns previously held by Boko Haram painted a picture
of “absolute terror and grave human rights violations” by the insurgents in
northeast Nigeria, and also yielded reports of violations of international
human rights and international humanitarian law by Nigerian armed forces.
The High Commissioner urged the new administration of
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent measures to bring to justice
perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses, whether non-State or State
actors. He also called on the authorities to ensure that counter-insurgency
operations do not result in furthering the human rights devastation in the
northeast of the country.
“Civilians in northeast Nigeria have been living through
horrifying acts of cruelty and violence by Boko Haram. These include wanton
killings, summary executions, forced participation in military operations –
including the use of children to detonate bombs, forced labour, forced marriage
and sexual violence, including rape,” High Commissioner Zeid said.
Eye witnesses described how, in an attack in April on
Kwajafa village in Borno State, insurgents asked villagers to gather and hear
them preach. When the villagers gathered, the insurgents opened fire. The UN
Human Rights Office has also received a video recording an execution, allegedly
of a girl who refused to convert to Islam.
“We have reports of children who were suspected of theft
and had their hands amputated, of a man stoned to death on accusations of
fornication, mass executions of captives whose hands and legs were bound and
who were dumped into rivers and wells. In one incident reported to have taken
place in late 2014, Boko Haram allegedly assembled and brutally killed at least
1,000, possibly many more, male inhabitants of Mararaba Madagali in Adamawa
State. These were men and boys who refused to join Boko Haram’s depraved
cause.”
The High Commissioner said extremely worrying reports had
also emerged about the actions of Nigerian armed forces. One victim recounted
his ordeal when he was mistaken for a Boko Haram member and detained by the
military in Yola in Adamawa State. The man said he spent five days without food
or water, as detainees drank the urine of others to quench their thirst. He
claimed that there was an average of five deaths per day in the facility.
“My predecessor, Navi Pillay, during her visit to Nigeria
last year said that many of the people she met openly acknowledged that human
rights violations had been committed by the security forces, and that these
have served to alienate local communities and created fertile ground for Boko
Haram to cultivate new recruits,” Zeid said.
“Since then we have continued to receive reports of
arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and summary executions, as well as of
a failure to take adequate measures to ensure the protection of civilians
during counter-insurgency operations. Reports issued by international NGOs, as
well as the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria indicate that the scale
of the violations may be massive.”
Zeid acknowledged the tremendous challenges faced by the
Government of Nigeria in its efforts to combat Boko Haram, but he stressed the
importance of ensuring that security forces uphold the rule of law, in
accordance with their human rights obligations.
“I am encouraged by President Buhari’s promise that this
new administration will leave no stone unturned to promote the rule of law and
ensure justice and the protection of human rights while countering terrorism,”
Zeid said.
“I urge him to act without delay to establish proper independent
inquiries into alleged violations of international human rights and
international humanitarian law by the Nigerian armed forces and related
militia, and in particular into the deeply disturbing allegations that
thousands of people have died or been killed while held in detention by State
institutions.”
“We understand that there have been a number of
investigations by the authorities and we call on them to publicize the
findings. Investigations into human rights violations must be conducted in a transparent
manner, in order to inspire confidence and deter further violations,” the High
Commissioner said.
“This is crucial to ensure that victims of Boko Haram’s
crimes are not doubly victimized by their own Government.”
The High Commissioner stressed that the UN Human Rights
Office stood ready to advice the Government on ensuring its counter-terrorism
operations are in line with international law. The Office is currently advising
the military authorities on a review of the rules of engagement and the code of
conduct for counter-terrorism and military operations in the northeast.
High Commissioner Zeid also called on the authorities to
ensure that those who have been rescued from towns previously held by Boko
Haram have access to psychosocial help and assistance in reintegrating into
their communities.
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact
please contact Rupert Colville (+41 79 506 1088 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or
Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Cécile Pouilly
(+41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org)
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