The court also ordered the Buhari government to identify, as well as,
prosecute the perpetrators.
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the President
Muhammadu Buhari regime to investigate the January 2018 "mass killing
and destruction of properties" in some communities in five local
government areas of Benue State.
The court also ordered the Buhari government to identify, as well as,
prosecute the perpetrators.
Delivering judgment in a case brought by the estates of seven persons
allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen in the incident, the court held
that the government was in "violation of its obligation to protect
against known and imminent threat to life in the affected communities
from the activities of Fulani herdsmen and in breach of its obligation
to investigate the human rights violations that occurred".
The three-member panel of the court also ordered the government to
"redress the victims" and "provide preventive security arrangements to
counter any future insurgency in the affected communities".
The court, however, rejected a request by the plaintiffs for an order
compelling the government to pay N200 million to each of them as
general damages for the untimely loss of their beloved ones in the
incident because the "plaintiffs failed to prove their case as to the
cause of death of their deceased relatives and establish the nexus
between their death and the clashes that occurred in their
communities". [story_link align="left"]58266[/story_link]
It also rejected the request of the plaintiffs for an order for the
government to pay each of them the sum of N1 billion each as
aggravated and punitive damages as a result of the failure of the
defendant to "checkmate the illegal and oppressive act of the fiery
Fulani Herdsmen in some communities in Benue State", as they failed to
prove their claims as to the violation of their right to property.
The next of kin of the deceased seven farmers alleged the violation of
their fundamental human rights and those of their late relatives,
particularly the rights to life, dignity, peace, security, and
equality before the law.
Also violated, according to their initiating application, were their
rights to privacy, property, freedom, and protection from inhuman and
degrading treatment from domination by a group of people and from all
forms of discrimination.
On the panel were President of the regional court, Justice Edward
Amoako Asante, Presiding, Justice Keikura Bangura, and Justice
Januaria T. S. Moreira Costa, the Voice of Nigeria reports.