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Amnesty International Urges FG To Release Panel Report On Human Rights Abuses By Army

September 11, 2018

In 2017, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations indicted the Nigerian military on crimes in violation of international law.

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Amnesty International, a global human rights organisation, has called on the Federal Government to make public the findings of the presidential panel set up by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to look into allegations of human rights violations levelled against the Nigerian Army.

In a statement on Monday, the organisation described the delay as an appalling affront to victims who await justice.

In 2017, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations indicted the Nigerian military on crimes in violation of international law and serious human rights violations across the country.

Following the report, Osinbajo, then Acting President, set up the Presidential Investigative Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement.

The panel has, however, failed to make public its reports after it concluded series of public hearings in Abuja, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna and Lagos from September 11 to November 8, 2017.

The statement read: “The presidential investigative panel submitted its report in February 2018 and since then, Nigerians have been waiting for the full report and fulfillment of the promise made by President Buhari in June 2015 to end impunity and ensure justice for the victims of crimes under international law committed by the armed forces.

“When the panel finally commenced a year ago, many Nigerians took the brave step to testify, driven by their yearning for the truth to come out. Their efforts must not be in vain. It is time the victims see the result of the investigations.

“The government must make good on its promise and show its commitment to transparency and accountability by publishing the report and publicly revealing how they will ensure justice for the victims.

“Far too many previous investigative panels and inquiries set up by the government in the past ended nowhere, with no reports published to the public and little evidence of action taken by the government.”