Shi’ites: US, CDHR Condemn Use Of ‘Maximum Force’
Reactions Thursday trailed the bloody clashes between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, and security agencies, as the United States Government, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Committee for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, flayed the use of maximum force on the sect.
The reactions came as 130 arrested members of the sect were arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse, Zone 2, Abuja by the Nigeria Police Force.
This is even as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, described the IMN as a non-Islamic organization.
Amnesty International had on Wednesday, also criticised the use of maximum force on the sect members by the military and police which it claimed led to the death of 45 of the sect members.
Reacting Thursday in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Abuja, the US government expressed concern at the number of deaths that resulted from the clashes between the sect and the security forces in Abuja.
“We urge government of Nigeria to conduct a thorough investigation of the events and to take appropriate action to hold accountable those responsible for violations of Nigerian law. We urge restraint on all sides,’’ the terse statement read.
Also reacting, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said: “What the government is doing to the Shi’ites by killing those who participated in peaceful protest in Kaduna and Abuja for merely protesting, which is their constitutional rights under the 1999 constitution, amount to breach of their constitutional rights and calculated pogrom.
“These are people who are not armed, going for peaceful protest like what the likes of Charley Boy and the rest have been doing. That is an act of barbarism. Soldiers are trained to kill not to quell riot. ‘’Military are called in a situation where the situation cannot be controlled. The police who are trained to quell riots are not even allowed or permitted to kill under section 214 and 215 of the constitution. So the killing is, indeed, malfeasance.
“Like what the Amnesty International has said, the government and the military are to be held responsible. These same soldiers are not able to quell the killings by herdsmen in Adamawa, Plateau, Enugu, Benue etc are now killing those who engaged in peaceful protest.”
In his reaction, President of Committee for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Malachy Ugwumadu, said no one could discountenance the view of Amnesty International, on the ground that whoever killed another person unlawfully should be held accountable.
‘’It is consequential for any violent behaviour or infraction of our laws and in line with the rule of law, must hold people accountable. Having said that, every Nigerian, under Chapter 4 of the Constitution and other relevant sections, have rights to freely assemble and associate.
“Section 45 under same chapter 4 says that such right can be taken away in such circumstances when you infringe on the same constitution.
“I condemn in totality any form of killing and violence by any group, which should not also be accommodated under any democratic set up like ours, which is capable of causing breach of peace,’’ he said.
