Amnesty International says the failure of Nigerian authorities to release the report of the Presidential Panel that purportedly investigated compliance of armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement, three years after the report was submitted to the President is a gross display of contempt for victims.
Osai Ojigho Director, Amnesty International Nigeria said many Nigerians showed incredible courage to testify to the panel, in the hope that, in the end, it will lead to justice. But three years is so long and too long for victims to continue waiting for the release of the panel’s report; which is a key step to justice for victims.
“We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil the promise he made in 2015 to end impunity by
immediately releasing the report. Victims and the larger public in Nigeria deserve to see and scrutinize the findings.
“Previous such investigations have ended up without any tangible outcome on the side of justice. Nigerian authorities
have the duty to ensure that the country’s security forces comply with international law obligations and ensure prompt,
thorough, independent and impartial investigations of all allegations of violations.
“Hundreds of victims and witnesses described horrific violations committed by Nigeria’s security forces, including
rape, torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and razing of villages and homes during public
hearings organized by the Panel in Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, and Lagos.
“Failure to disclose the report of the panel, an important first step towards justice, is a shameful betrayal of these victims and another marker of the lack of political will by Nigerian authorities to bring alleged perpetrators to justice. It is an abysmal failure, a devastating setback for rule of law that only perpetuates the culture of impunity which is so pervasive in Nigeria.”
