Boko Haram members should be prosecuted not freed, says group

Juliana Francis

The Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a nongovernmental organisation that acts as a watchdog over activities of the Police has urged the Federal Government to stop setting members of Boko Haram insurgents free and do everything within its power to ensure they were prosecuted and sentenced for extra-judicial killings in Nigeria.

This was stated by the National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Emmanuel Ikule, while speaking on, ‘Extra-judicial Killings in Nigeria,’ at Watercress Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State on Thursday.

He argued that if Maryam Sanda could be sentenced to death by hanging, there was no reason to free insurgents, who had killed hundreds, if not thousands of Nigerians.

He said: “Every week, we see 500 or more Boko Haram members being freed. Why is the government freeing them? These are people that have killed so many people. A woman, Maryam Sanda, was sentenced to death for killing her husband, yet Boko Haram are being freed and treated nicely under the guise that they have become ‘born again.’  The President, National Assembly should live up to the requirements of their office to make laws, adhere to it and protect lives and property of the people of this country. And if they cannot, they should leave the office for those who can. Since 2009 till date, at least there are over 2000 cases of extrajudicial killings yearly.”

Speaking on extra-judicial killings carried out by uniform personnel, especially the police, Ikule said that policemen should be properly trained on the rules of engagement. He also noted that recruit process into the Force should be vetted.

He disclosed: “In light of an increase in extrajudicial killings, the call for reform of SARS Unit of the Nigeria Police Force can no longer be easily disregarded. The police do not necessarily have to be disarmed, as some have suggested, to perform their functions under the Police Act. Government should ensure that law enforcement officials use force only when strictly necessary and only to the minimum extent required under the circumstances. Lethal force should not be used except when strictly unavoidable in order to protect lives. Death Squads, private army, criminal gangs and paramilitary forces operating outside the chain of command, but with official support or acquiescence should be prohibited and disbanded. Members of such groups who have perpetrated extrajudicial executions should be brought to justice.”

The Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Lagos State branch, Mrs Phil Nneji said that uniform personnel, especially policemen should be brought to book to ensure extrajudicial killings are curtailed

She added: “FIDA is passionate about women and children. We condemn in absolute term assault on women. We say no to violence of any kind. We need to be concern about the yearnings of Nigerians. We need to walk the talk. Some weeks back, we were in the office of the Assistant-Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Lagos State. We complained about actions of overzealous policemen. If we don’t do something to ensure all these people (killers) are brought to book, we wouldn’t make headway. We recommend that our security agents should be properly trained and stop arbitrarily arrests.”