The
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an
open letter to the UN 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.”
In the
letter dated March 16, 2018 and signed by SERAP deputy director 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
organisation said: “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 recognise 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.
Press Release
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