By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Federal Government, National Assembly, network of civil society organisations, media and other relevant authorities to help investigate and document all cases of missing persons .
It also called on the relevant authorities to establish data centres for the forcibly or enforced disappearance of victims of insurgency and persons massively arrested in towns and villages by security operatives during attacks and surveillance or patrols arising from the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, stated this on Thursday in Maidugi during a dialogue with victims of insurgency, media and other stakeholders.
Mr. Sanusi said there is the urgent need for concerned authorities to have a comprehensive and accurate data or profiles of missing persons , persons in detention awaiting trial for years and victims of the insurgency.
According to him, records have shown that about 23,000 persons and victims of the insurgency are still in detention and custody of the Nigerian.military since 2 to 3 years ago whereby as at today, the figure could be higher than 23,0000 in detention at Giwa Barracks Joint Task Force Detention Center Maiduguri Borno state of the north east Nigeria as well as other parts of the country witnessing similar crisis.
He further explained that today’s programme is part of the annual solidarity and campaign for victims of Enforced Disappearance in Nigeria and across the world.
“This event is a lead up to the commemoration of the annual International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances on 30 August 2023”, he added.
Malam Sanusi also emphasized its readiness to intensify campaigns against silence and failure of government and authorities concerned to enact laws on documentation of profiles of missing and forcibly disappeared persons or enforced victims of Boko Haram insurgency by the military and other security operatives.
He stressed that: “Amnesty International Nigeria is ever ready to implement the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance effectively into national law. Nigerian authorities must stop enforced disappearances, as our findings revealed that it is still happening.
The Country Director also noted that Amnesty International will not relent on its efforts to continue to ensure that enforced disappearances of victims of insurgency are thoroughly and effectively investigated, suspects are prosecuted in accordance with international standards of due process, and that those found guilty receive punishments that are proportionate to the seriousness of the offense.
He reiterated the commitment of Amnesty International to provide effective protection to persons who file complaints of missing persons and enforced disappearance, families of the disappeared person, witnesses and lawyers representing them as well as create a comprehensive data base of disappeared and missing persons in the northeast.
The Executive Director Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development , Hajiya Hansatu Allamin said the foundation since its existence has been in the forefront of struggling and support for the helpless, vulnerable, women and children especially victims of the insurgency in many parts of the state and region seeking for transitional justice to prevail.
She added that the foundation has profiled over 23000 persons and victims of the insurgency missing, forcibly disappeared and massively arrested by the military in detention at Giwa Barracks and other places for over 9 years without trial.
She added that there are also records of victims that died in detention and those who are still alive but in detention and never appear before any court for trial.
Hajiya Hamsatu maintained that the foundation has over 10 categories of groups of persons and victims of the insurgency that need support, empowerment, rehabilitation and reintegration with family members and loved ones among others which informed the fight for transitional justice for the victims, especially, women and children.
The North East Vice President of Network for CSO, Ambassador Comrade Ahmed Shehu noted that the network has been working assiduously since 2020 by pursuing cases of rights of the people in the society, welfare, privileges, security, empowerment , rehabilitation and development issues affecting ting the people in the society.
He pledged total support and cooperation with the Amnesty International Nigeria to address the issues of missing persons and enforced disappearances of victims of the insurgency in the north east while calling on all the members of the network of CSO in the region to join the campaigns.
Comrade Ambassador Bulama Abiso, the State Chairman of Network for CSO, Borno State assured that all members and partners of NECSOB will join the campaigns and ensure data or profiling centres are established for subsequent references and actions of the government and other relevant partners on security, restoration peace , reconciliation and peace building .
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.
Leave a Reply