TheCable

Amnesty International says at least 200 members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), #EndSARS protesters, and former militants from Niger Delta have been subjected to “unresolved enforced disappearances”.

The international human rights organisation said the federal government must address the “heinous crimes of enforced disappearance”, adding that there must be hope of justice for families of victims.

August 30 marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances — a day set aside to create awareness for those who have been arrested, detained, abducted or denied fundamental human rights by state actors, without any form of acknowledgement from authorities.

Amnesty, in a statement on Monday, narrated how the whereabouts of some citizens, including activists, have become unknown in recent times with security agencies denying their whereabouts.

The organisation said the Nigerian government must comply with international legal obligations on the investigation and prosecution of crimes of enforced disappearance.

“Nigerian security forces’ attempts to clamp down on Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) militants have led to arbitrary arrests, detentions, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions in the south-east and Niger Delta area of Nigeria,” the statement reads.

‘The whereabouts of at least 50 suspected members of IPOB arrested in Oyigbo, Rivers state are still unknown since their arrest in October and November 2020.

“The unresolved enforced disappearances of several activists underscore the need for action. Abubakar Idris, also known as Dadiyata, a vocal government critic and university lecturer, was abducted in his home in Kaduna on 2 August 2019 and has not been seen since. The government has denied holding him.

“The cases of at least 200 people – including former militants from Niger Delta, members of IPOB, #EndSARS protesters and security suspects believed to have been subjected to unresolved enforced disappearances in Nigeria have been documented by Amnesty International – The real number is believed to be higher.

“Nigerian security forces often cite the anti-terror law that allows the authorities to hold people without charge or trial in unofficial places of detention, often without contact to the outside world, in practice, clearly increase the risk of people disappearing after being detained.

“Not only these tragic disappearances, but also the government’s continuing failure to establish the truth and bring justice to their families, are growing stains on Nigeria reputation. Scores of disappearance cases such as this remain unresolved and cast doubt on the Nigerian government’s commitment to keeping its own citizens safe.

“Nigeria is bound by international legal obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance both of which it has acceded to – to investigate, prosecute, punish and provide remedies and reparation for the crimes of enforced disappearance.

“The authorities must demonstrate zero tolerance for such crimes. They must take immediate action to end enforced disappearances and other serious violations, carry out independent, impartial and effective investigations, and prosecute those in the security forces suspected of responsibility in fair trials.”