SERAP drags FG to UN over Southern Kaduna Killings

Socio-Economic Rightsand Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Ms.
Agnes CALLAMARD, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial,summary or arbitrary
executions, urging her to “prevail on the Nigerian authorities tohalt
further killings of innocent citizens in Southern Kaduna, and to urgently
investigation recentallegations of killings of over 800 citizens mostly
women, children andthe elderly in that part of the country by suspected
herdsmen, and to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, and
toprovide reparations to victims”
The organization alsoasked Ms. CALLAMARD to “request to visit Nigeria to
conduct fact-findingmission into the circumstances surrounding
thekillings.”
In the petition dated 30 December 2016 and signed by SERAP
executivedirector Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization expressed “concern
that thekillings of citizens in Southern Kaduna of Nigeria amount to
serious violationsof the rights to life; to security of the human person;
to the respect of thedignity inherent in a human being; and right to
property guaranted by not only theNigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended)
but also the African Charter on Humanand Peoples’ Rights and the
International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights to which Nigeria is a
state party.”
The petition reads in part: “SERAP contends that Nigerian authorities have
failed and/or neglected torespect these human rights and to exercise due
diligence to ensure that theserights are not violated by private
individuals such as herdsmen and otherunknown perpetrators. Nigerian
government should therefore be held to accountfor failing or neglecting to
guarantee and protect the rights of the people inSouthern Kaduna,
regardless of whether such violations are directly orindirectly
attributable to the state or its officials.”
“SERAP is concerned that theNigerian government has failed and/or
neglected to create an environment inSouthern Kaduna to end the unlawful
killings by failing to move their legal andinstitutional machinery towards
the actual realisation of these rights.  It is in fact the failure by the
government totake adequate measures to prevent the violence which has
contributed to theincreasing number of victims.”
“SERAP believes that the killingswould not have taken place if the
Nigerian authorities have taken measures toprevent their happening and to
address persistentimpunity of those responsible for the violations and
abuses. The lack ofaccountability for the attacks by herdsmen and
otherunknown perpetrators across the country has continued to create a
culture ofimpunity which clearly is not compatible with the rule of law in
a democraticsociety.”
“According to theleadership of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan in Kaduna
State, a total of 808people were killed in 53 villages across the four
local governments areas inthe state ridden by crisis. The church leaders
also said that 57 people wereinjured; farm produce estimated at N5.5
billion were also destroyed, and atotal of 1,422 houses and 16 churches
were burnt during the attacks. Theaffected communities are spread across
Kaura, Sanga, Jama’a and Kauru LocalGovernment Areas where there had been
persistent attacks on communities bygunmen believed to be Fulani
herdsmen.” SERAP therefore urged Ms. CALLAMARD to prevail on the Nigerian
authorities to:
– Take measures to urgently secure the right to life, right to security
and dignity of the human person and right to property of citizens in
Southern Kaduna, and to prevent further attacks and killings by
herdsmen and other unknown perpetrators
– Carry out an effective investigation into the circumstances
surrounding the killings and to identify the perpetrators and bring
them to justice, and to provide reparations to victims
– Provide a framework of security for the protection of life, and to
protect the lives of those individuals at risk from unlawful attacks in
Southern Kaduna
– Provide for an effective remedy and reparation for the victims
SignedAdetokunbo MumuniSERAP Executive
Director30/12/2016www.serap-nigeria.orgLagos,
NigeriaTwitter: @SERAPNigeria