Lawyers Without Border, Partners Condemn Police Killing in Taraba …..demands Justice on Perpetrators
By Habila Victor, Kaduna
Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF), France, otherwise known as ‘lawyers without Border’ and partners have condemn the killing of three police officers and a civilian by some soldiers in Taraba State, in strong terms, calling on the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators to book.
ASF, in a statement signed by Mrs. Angela Uwandu, Head of Nigeria Office, noted that no law permits security agencies to summarily execute suspects of crime without adherence to due process.
ASF France views the incident the called an “avoidable incident’ as unfortunate and demands that justice be served in the case.
According to the statemeny, “all officers responsible for the extra judicial killing of the police officers and the civilian in Taraba State should be brought to book to serve as deterrence to others” says Angela Uwandu, the Head of Office of ASF France in Nigeria. “No law permits security agencies to summarily execute suspects of crime without adherence to due process,
“Extra judicial execution/killing is a gross human rights violation which directly contravenes the constitutionally guaranteed right to life.”
ASF France therefore, welcomes the directive by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to the Defence Headquarters to commence a probe into the incident and to serve justice. The group also calls for similar investigation to the reported killing of two civilians by soldiers in Ishere, Ogun State on August 13, 2019.
“ASF France urges for proper coordination and liaison between the Nigerian Police Force and Nigeria Army to ensure justice in these cases and to restore the confidence of the Nigerian populace in its security agencies.” The statement added.
Avocats Sans Frontières France is currently implementing the SAFE project in Nigeria in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization (CAPIO) to address core human rights violations of extra judicial killings, torture, ill treatments and arbitrary detention by security agencies in Nigeria.
