Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open
letter to the UN Security Council and its members urging them to:
Urgently hold a special session on Nigeria and to visit the country to
press the authorities to end continuing killings and destruction of
property by suspected herdsmen across Nigeria, particularly in the
North-Central of the country.
The organization also asked the Council to: treat the atrocities by
herdsmen as terrorist acts, in line with the UN Security Council
resolution 2349 (2017), which addresses Boko Harams presence in the Lake
Chad Basin and calls on all states to combat all forms and manifestations
of terrorism. Declaring attacks by herdsmen as terrorist acts would help
make up the authorities to seriously address the threats posed by herdsmen
and combat the crimes against humanity being committed against Nigerians.
In the letter dated 16 March 2018 and signed by SERAP deputy director
Timothy Adewale the organization expressed, serious concern that the
government of President Muhammadu Buhari is failing to uphold its
responsibility to protect the citizens from increasing atrocities by the
herdsmen, which if not urgently addressed would pose serious threat to
regional peace and security, and by extension, international peace and
security. The Security Council must act now to protect Nigerians,
including women and children, if the Council is not to be accused of
failing the people of Nigeria.
The organization said: The attacks by herdsmen have uprooted families,
destroyed communities socio-economic activities, and taken away their
livelihoods and common heritage. These attacks undermine the very purposes
and principles of the UN Charter. If not urgently combatted, such attacks
may rise to the level of threat to international peace and security. SERAP
notes that the first purpose listed for the UN is to maintain
international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective
collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the
peace.
The letter read in part: SERAP urges the Security Council and its members
to publicly condemn these terrorist attacks, express concern about the
protection of Nigerians and communities affected by the violations of
international humanitarian and human rights law and press the authorities
to put in place special mechanisms for bringing those suspected to be
responsible to justice, and victims to receive redress, including adequate
compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.
The Security Council and its members should reaffirm that terrorism of
all forms and manifestations, such as the growing attacks by herdsmen in
Nigeria, are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations.
They should also recognize that security, development and human rights are
interlinked and mutually reinforcing and are vital to an effective and
comprehensive approach to countering all forms of terrorism in Nigeria.
The Security Council and its members should adopt a resolution to:
Characterise killings by herdsmen as terrorist acts and mobilize
international support for Nigeria to combat these attacks, including for
the authorities to adopt and implement measures to tackle the causes and
consequences of these attacks and end all forms of terrorism in the
country.
The resolution should also call on the UN Secretary-General to carry out
a joint visit to Nigeria with the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and the African Union Peace
and Security Council to investigate allegations of killings by herdsmen
and to better understand the root causes of these killings and put
pressure on the Nigerian authorities to end them.
The resolution should express concern that unabated killings by herdsmen
may ultimately contribute to undermining the ability of the Nigerian
authorities to provide security, good governance, social and economic
development in the country. It should affirm the international communitys
solidarity and full support for the victims of killings by herdsmen and
the communities affected, including those displaced because of the
attacks.
The Security Council and its members should support collaboration with
the African Union Peace and Security Council to combat the threats posed
by herdsmen and enable both institutions to support stability and
development in Nigeria. We believe that a UN Security Council resolution
would help to put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to take urgent and
concrete measures to end the killings and secure the safety of all
Nigerians. We urge you to act urgently as recommended, and we would be
pleased to discuss these issues further.
SERAP notes that hundreds of people including women and children, have
been killed apparently by herdsmen, and several more have been displaced
and others forced to flee their homes and communities. The past weeks
alone have seen some of the worst attacks against innocent citizens,
including unlawful killings, destruction and pillage of property by
herdsmen across the country. The attacks have been fuelled by impunity
that has plagued the authorities response to the problem.
According reports, at least seven people have been killed and property
worth millions of naira destroyed following series of attacks on Takum and
Ussa local government areas of Taraba State by herdsmen. In Plateau State
of Nigeria, a man identified as Joseph Alli, 23, was killed and beheaded
by herdsmen during a fresh attack on Rotsu village, Miango District in
Bassa Local Government Area of the State.
His killers reportedly ate the food that he was about to eat, burnt the
kitchen and food barn in the house and left. Three houses around the area
were also burnt. In Kogi State, at least 50 people have been killed, with
several still missing following an attack on Oganenigwu in Dekina Local
Government Area of the State by herdsmen.
The Security Council has five permanent members: China, France, Russian
Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten
non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
The non-permanent members are: Bolivia; Cte dIvoire; Equatorial Guinea;
Ethiopia; and Kazakhstan. Others are: Kuwait; Netherlands; Peru; Poland;
and Sweden.
The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for
one month, following the English alphabetical order of the Member States
names. The current president of the Council is the Netherlands.