ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has accused the Nigerian Security Forces (NSFs) of unlawful killings and atrocities over the past eight years and four months, resulting in the death of over 100,000 unarmed and defenseless citizens.
According to them, there are details of 28 major ‘Conduct-Atrocity Operations,’ uncovering a disturbing average of 35 unlawful deaths per day, which the group claimed has left the nation in a state of perpetual bloodshed and tears.
They alleged also that the investigation revealed victims, numbering over 100,000, that faced deadly torture, secret detentions without fair trials, and permanent disappearances during custodial abductions.
The groups made the claim in a press release made available to voiceofnaija.ng, by Emeka Umeagbalasi, the Board Chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.
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The report according to him, also highlights a concerning bias, with approximately 70 per cent of the victims belonging to Christian and non-Muslim communities, particularly in the South-East, South-South, and Old Middle-Belt regions.
Intersociety has raised alarms about the radicalization, bias, and lack of professionalism within the Nigerian Security Forces, calling for urgent restructuring, comprehensive retraining, and de-radicalization.
The report delves into specific incidents, detailing 28 major operations since August 2015, including the infamous 2016 starvation of 240 civilian detainees in Maiduguri, the 2020 Lekki massacre, and the ongoing protection of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen terrorism.
The investigators urge the Nigerian government to address the alleged clandestine conscription of ethno-religious killer elements within the security forces and drop the controversial “State Jihadism Project.”
In the face of these revelations, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has called for urgent action to prevent the NSFs from evolving into what they term ‘Tribo-Islamic Gendarmes.’
The report concludes with a plea for the Nigerian government to abandon securitization absurdities and focus on addressing the root causes of the security challenges, including a lack of neutrality and professionalism within the security forces.