About 1000 suspected Boko Haram militants died in detention in the first half of 2013 alone, London-based rights organization, Amnesty International, said Tuesday.
Some of the dead were beaten and shot without getting medical attention while others die due to harsh detention conditions such as over-crowded jails and starvation.
“The evidence we’ve gathered suggests that hundreds of people died in military custody in 2013 alone. This is a staggeringly high figure that requires urgent action by the Nigerian government,” Lucy Freeman, Amnesty International’s deputy Africa director, said in a statement.
“The details of what happens behind locked doors in these shadowy detention facilities must be exposed, and those responsible for any human rights violations brought to book.”
The Nigerian army said it has not seen the report and will respond when it is made available to them.
A large proportion of these deaths are reported to have happened in Giwa military barracks, Maiduguri in Borno State, and Sector Alpha, commonly referred to as ‘Guantanamo’ and Presidential Lodge (known as ‘Guardroom’) in Damaturu, Yobe State.”
Detainees in these detention centres told Amnesty International that people die daily in “both Giwa and Sector Alpha from suffocation or other injuries due to overcrowding, and starvation. Some suffered serious injuries due to severe beating and eventually died in detention due to lack of medical attention and treatment.”
Some of the atrocities perpetuated in these camps are summary execution and detainees being shot in the legs during interrogations.
“Hundreds have been killed in detention either by shooting them or by suffocation…There are times when people are brought out on a daily basis and killed. About five people, on average, are killed nearly on a daily basis,” a senior army officer told h asked not to be named told Amnesty International.
“International standards, as well as Nigerian laws, require that deaths in custody must be investigated thoroughly and impartially,” said Ms Freeman. “Detainees have human rights and these must be respected in all instances.”
Hundreds of suspected Boko Haram militants are held in mostly secret detention centres across the country without charge and no access to lawyers and family members. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Can this so called amnesty int'l tell us how many innocent people were slaughtered by Boko Haram? They deserve whatever treatment they are given. So amnesty mind your business.
ReplyDeleteWhen boko haram kill policemen and soldiers who innocently go about their official duties, this amnesty people don't say anything.
ReplyDeleteIf you kill 5 people daily for 100 days, it amounts to 500 people. How many were detained?
ReplyDeletePlease stop peddling falsehood
If an animal start fighting for its human right, it will be comedy cos such rights are for human and not animals. If the rights of Human beings are violated, Amnesty Intl can challenge such. In this case, I don't think they need to intervene cos BokoHaram members are not human being and hence have no human right. They are even worse than savage animals like crocodiles and sharks and hence shouldn't be allowed to exist among human being. I only weep for the few innocent ones that may become victims of circumstances.
ReplyDeleteAmnesty int, you guys are forming this up without any evidence, go look for something better to do.
ReplyDeleteDon't mind them, they are enemy of Nigeria pretending 2 me lovers, We should be celebrating them, and giving egg and fried rice and chicken 4 killing innocent people in religious and public gatherings. Amnesty to hell. How sure are we that u not behind the killers?
ReplyDeleteI believe that this amnesty people have been bribed by BK sponsors.
ReplyDeleteAmnesty people can you tell us how many people these people have wasted their lives for no reason.
I don't even know why the military is keeping them, whatever a man soweth he shall reap.
They (BH), deserve to be killed "instanta". People dat are out killing, maiming and creating orphans, widows, widowers etc dont deserve a fair hearing.
ReplyDelete