‘Declare herdsmen attacks as terrorist acts,’ SERAP urges UN Security Council
*United Nations Security Council
(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP,
has sent an open letter to the United Nations Security Council and its members urging them
to: “Urgently hold a special session on Nigeria and to visit the country to
press the authorities to end continuing killings and destruction of property by
suspected herdsmen across Nigeria, particularly in the North-Central of the
country.”
The organisation also asked the Council to: “treat the
atrocities by herdsmen as terrorist acts, in line with the UN Security Council
resolution 2349 (2017), which addresses Boko Haram’s presence in the Lake Chad
Basin and calls on all states to combat all forms and manifestations of
terrorism. Declaring attacks by herdsmen as terrorist acts would help make up
the authorities to seriously address the threats posed by herdsmen and combat
the crimes against humanity being committed against Nigerians.”
SERAP in a letter by its Deputy Director, Mr Timothy Adewale
the organisation expressed, “serious concern that the government of President
Muhammadu Buhari is failing to uphold its responsibility to protect the
citizens from increasing atrocities by the herdsmen, which if not urgently addressed
would pose serious threat to regional peace and security, and by extension,
international peace and security. The Security Council must act now to protect
Nigerians, including women and children, if the Council is not to be accused of
failing the people of Nigeria.
“The attacks by herdsmen have uprooted families, destroyed
communities’ socio-economic activities, and taken away their livelihoods and
common heritage. These attacks undermine the very purposes and principles of the
UN Charter. If not urgently combatted, such attacks may rise to the level of
threat to international peace and security. SERAP notes that the first
‘purpose’ listed for the UN is to maintain international peace and security,
and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and
removal of threats to the peace.”
The letter read in part: “SERAP urges the Security Council
and its members to publicly condemn these terrorist attacks, express concern
about the protection of Nigerians and communities affected by the violations of
international humanitarian and human rights law and press the authorities to
put in place special mechanisms for bringing those suspected to be responsible
to justice, and victims to receive redress, including adequate compensation and
guarantee of non-repetition.
“The Security Council and its members should reaffirm that
terrorism of all forms and manifestations, such as the growing attacks by
herdsmen in Nigeria, are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their
motivations. They should also recognize that security, development and human
rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and are vital to an effective
and comprehensive approach to countering all forms of terrorism in Nigeria.
“The Security Council and its members should adopt a
resolution to: Characterise killings by herdsmen as terrorist acts and mobilize
international support for Nigeria to combat these attacks, including for the
authorities to adopt and implement measures to tackle the causes and
consequences of these attacks and end all forms of terrorism in the country.
“The resolution should also call on the UN Secretary-General
to carry out a joint visit to Nigeria with the High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and the African Union
Peace and Security Council to investigate allegations of killings by herdsmen
and to better understand the root causes of these killings and put pressure on
the Nigerian authorities to end them.
“The resolution should express concern that unabated
killings by herdsmen may ultimately contribute to undermining the ability of
the Nigerian authorities to provide security, good governance, social and
economic development in the country. It should affirm the international
community’s solidarity and full support for the victims of killings by herdsmen
and the communities affected, including those displaced because of the attacks.
“The Security Council and its members should support
collaboration with the African Union Peace and Security Council to combat the
threats posed by herdsmen and enable both institutions to support stability and
development in Nigeria. We believe that a UN Security Council resolution would
help to put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to take urgent and concrete
measures to end the killings and secure the safety of all Nigerians. We urge
you to act urgently as recommended, and we would be pleased to discuss these
issues further.
“SERAP notes that hundreds of people including women and
children, have been killed apparently by herdsmen, and several more have been
displaced and others forced to flee their homes and communities. The past weeks
alone have seen some of the worst attacks against innocent citizens, including
unlawful killings, destruction and pillage of property by herdsmen across the
country. The attacks have been fuelled by impunity that has plagued the authorities’
response to the problem.
“According reports, at least seven people have been killed
and property worth millions of naira destroyed following series of attacks on
Takum and Ussa local government areas of Taraba State by herdsmen. In Plateau
State of Nigeria, a man identified as Joseph Alli, 23, was killed and beheaded
by herdsmen during a fresh attack on Rotsu village, Miango District in Bassa
Local Government Area of the State.
“His killers reportedly ate the food that he was about to
eat, burnt the kitchen and food barn in the house and left. Three houses around
the area were also burnt. In Kogi State, at least 50 people have been killed,
with several still missing following an attack on Oganenigwu in Dekina Local
Government Area of the State by herdsmen.
The Security Council has five permanent members: China,
France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten
non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. The
non-permanent members are: Bolivia; Côte d’Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea; Ethiopia;
and Kazakhstan. Others are: Kuwait; Netherlands; Peru; Poland; and Sweden.
The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members
in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the Member
States names. The current president of the Council is the Netherlands.
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