FG’s handling of killers of Boko Haram members worries US – Report

The United States government has expressed concern that nobody has been brought to justice regarding the extra-judicial killings of suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in 2009, Empowered Newswire reports.

An annual report of the US government on Religious Freedom, released on Thursday in Washington DC, states that while police carried out extrajudicial killings of Boko Haram leader, Muhammad Yusuf, members of the sect and other civilians, in July 2009 “no police officers had been disciplined, as police authorities claimed they were waiting for the National Security Adviser to conclude his report.”

The report notes that after initial denial of the killings by security forces, Federal Government officials subsequently acknowledged the extrajudicial killings but that the government did nothing to bring those involved to justice up till now.

Referring to alleged impunity over the Jos killings, the US said , “The lack of justice and reconciliation in Plateau State after the 2008 violence facilitated the eruption of new communal killings there in January and March 2010, which continued at the end of the reporting period.

“The violence caused hundreds of deaths, extensive property damage, and the displacement of thousands of residents. Non Governmental Organisations and traditional leaders led conflict resolution efforts to reduce sectarian violence in their communities with only limited success.”

The annual US report which covers religious freedom issues around the world, recalled that on August 3, 2009, late President Yar’Adua ordered his National Security Adviser to investigate the killings, adding also that earlier this year in February “the Qatar-based international satellite television network Aljazeera released video which appeared to confirm that security forces had summarily executed suspects.”

The report further notes that “Police and army personnel allegedly searched homes and selected at random, individuals to take into custody. In July 2009, violent clashes erupted in Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Yobe states after supporters of an Islamic extremist group, “Boko Haram” (“Western Education is Forbidden”), attacked police stations and other government facilities. The army restored order, but clashes between security forces and militants reportedly resulted in an estimated 700 deaths.”
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011191345690