FG convicts 40 Boko Haram members ----Adoke
(Nigeria) The Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, on Monday said that more than 40 Boko
Haram members had been convicted for terrorism-related crimes.
Adoke made this known at the opening of an International
seminar on the Observance of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in
Internal Security Operations in Abuja.
The seminar declared opened by President Goodluck Jonathan
was cohosted by the Office Attorney-General and the Office of the National
Security Adviser, NSA.
Adoke said the considerable efforts of government had been
made possible through the prosecution of members of the sect under the
Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 as amended in 2013.
The attorney-general commended the roles of members of the
armed forces and other law enforcement agencies in containing terrorism and
other related crises in the country.
He said the seminar was to sensitise the participants,
particularly members of the armed forces, to comply with relevant human rights
and international humanitarian laws and norms during internal security
operations.
Adoke noted that the military had been effective in
maintaining law and order and restoring normalcy to many crises areas in the
country.
He said the intervention sometimes attracts negative
reactions from affected communities on accounts of loss of lives and alleged
use of excessive force.
Adoke recalled the incidence in Odi, Bayelsa, and Zaki Biam,
Benue, both in 2001, where damages were awarded against Nigeria in billions of naira by the International Criminal Court, ICC.
``Allegations of human rights abuses and non-adherence to
applicable rules of engagement leveled against those involved in quelling
crises coupled with adverse reports from human rights advocates have tended to
put the country on the spotlight in the international community.
``The sad events that occurred in Odi in Bayelsa in 2001 and
Zaki Biam in Benue, also in 2001 led to the award of damages against the
Federal Government. The court awarded N37 billion against the Federal
Government in respect of Odi incident and N42 billion for the Zaki Biam
incident, which was later negotiated to eight billion naira.
``The unpleasant consequences of the extra-judicial killing
of Malam Yusuf Mohammed, leader of the Boko Haram sect in Borno in 2009, still
reverberate in the polity despite the N100 million compensation that the courts
ordered government to pay to the deceased’s family. The point being made is
that government can ill-afford to bear these huge financial liabilities in the
face of increasing responsibilities and dwindling resources,’’ he said.
Adoke also made reference to the criticism that trailed the
deployment of troops to the trouble North-East states and the Baga incidence in
Borno.
He said the civil disturbances in the central, Kaduna,
Plateau, the militancy in the Niger Delta, and the terrorist activities of the
Boko Haram had been under preliminary analysis by the ICC.
``The prosecutor’s report of August 5, 2013, established
that the Boko Haram sect was carrying out crimes against humanity as prescribed
under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the ICC, particularly murder and
persecution. The prosecutor has since proceeded to the admissibility stage of
determining whether Nigeria is `willing and able’ to prosecute the perpetrators
of these crimes,’’ he said.
Adoke, therefore, declared that government would continue to
take steps necessary at discharging its primary responsibilities of ensuring
the security and welfare of the people.
He charged members of the armed forces and other security
agencies to ensure that they discharge their duties within the confine of the
laws and norms.
``As Attorney General, I am particularly concerned about the
way and manner members of the armed forces discharge their responsibilities
within the context of our current security challenges.
``I wish to reaffirm government’s determination to hold
members of the armed forces as well as other security forces to the highest
professional and ethical standards. They must adhere strictly to applicable
rules of engagements and eschew act of impunity. I am pleased to observe that
relevant human rights and international humanitarian law norms are mainstreamed
in your curriculum and training manuals.
``I, therefore, wish to caution that any member of the armed
forces found wanting in the observance of applicable rules of engagement during
internal security operations would be held accountable.
``Military authorities should, therefore, ensure their
officers and men are appropriately sensitised to ensure compliance,’’ he said.
The attorney general enjoined the military high command to
take steps to further institutionalise the norms of civil engagement in all
their operations to avoid unpleasant consequences.
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