HURIWA cautions Army on Operation Python Dance 3: *Asks Buhari to rejig Security Council:

A leading pro-democracy and civil rights body – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has tasked the military authority to adhere strictly to the rules of engagement and respect the human rights of civilians even as it embarks on a training programme it code named as operation python dance 3 in the South East of Nigeria.

HURIWA made the observations against the backdrop of the announcement by General Officer Commanding 82 division of the Nigerian Army Major General Emmanuel Boman Kabuk that the Army will soon commence the third phase of the controversial operations python dance in the South East of Nigeria.

Relatedly, the Rights group has challenged president Muhammadu Buhari to embark on a holistic reorganization of the National Defence Council to properly reflect the federal character principle in line with the constitutional provision in section 14 (3) which provides thus: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

HURIWA specifically condemns the continuous alienation of the Igbo speaking nationality from holding any of the strategic national security position even when the ethnicity constitutes a significant percentage of the population which is why it is one amongst the tripod of the majority ethnic majority in Nigeria just as it states that the exclusion of such a huge ethnic nationality from holding any of the strategic national security post violates section 42 (1) of the Nigerian constitution which affirms that: “A citizen of Nigerian of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person – be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizen of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizen Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.”

HURIWA said the domination of the national security team by persons drawn largely from Moslem Hausa/Fulani ethnicity remains a grave violation of the Constitutional provisions on Federal character representation and is the reason the security challenges are not professionally handled because most of those heading the various strategic national security positions are known to be sympathetic to armed Fulani herdsmen who have constituted some of the most troubling national security challenge.

Speaking specifically on the proposed military operation in the South East of Nigeria, HURIWA in the statement by the national coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, said the exercise was totally unnecessary because the South East of Nigeria does not have any major national security threat as much as the North East of Nigeria where the war on terror is raging.

“We do not understand the strategic need of such a wide ranging military exercise in the peaceful South East of Nigeria when the military combat troops are in high demand in the North West state of Zamfara whereby bandits have killed over 3,000 innocent people and in the entire North East which is the epicenter of war on terror whereby so many combat troops have overstayed and therefore are overdue for redeployment which demonstrates the enormity of the military tasks that are still undone in the fight on terror in the North East".

"The best place for which an extensive milital exercise is necessary and relevant is North East of Nigeria. Be that as it may there are rules of engagement that must complied with. The previous two phases of operation python dance left so much wounds and deaths resulting from excessive use of brute force against civilians.”

HURIWA lamented that the last operation python dance led to the extra-legal killings of dozens of civilians including the disappearance of the director of the Europe registered indigenous people of Biafra Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and his parents who were attacked by armed security forces during the operation python dance 2.

"The Nigerian government headed by president Muhammadu Buhari has still not conducted thorough investigation of the dozens of extra-legal killings that was caused by the military forces during the operation python dance II even with the Kangaroo panel it set up to do a yeoman’s job.”

HURIWA recalled that the Nigerian Armed Forces when deployed for either internal or external operations, are bound by the laws of war and international law in the conduct of the operations but lamented that dozens of civilians were killed but not a single soldier has been prosecuted for these crimes against humanity.

HURIWA stated that it is imperative to let the Army hierarchy realize that laws regulate and limit the conduct of operations by acting as checks against arbitrary use of force.

HURIWA affirmed that the military authority must accept the expert legal opinion to the effect that laws are intended to minimize unnecessary suffering by combatants and non-combatants during war.

HURIWA recalled that the laws of war and international law are therefore sources of military law in Nigeria and include the following: The four Geneva Conventions of 1949; The two Additional Protocols of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949; Multilateral and bilateral agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory and have bearing on military service or operations; the decisions of: - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague; Ad hoc war crimes tribunals set up by or with the backing of the UN Security Council; The International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague.”

“The four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of war victims are as follows: Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the wounded and sick in Armed Forces in the Field; Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of Armed Forces at Sea; Geneva Convention Relative to the treatment of prisoners of war; Geneva Convention Relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war.”

“The two Additional Protocols of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 are to supplement the 1949 Geneva Conventions and modernize the laws of war; Protocol 1 deals with the laws of war in international armed conflicts while Protocol 2 addresses the laws of war applicable in internal armed conflicts.”

“HURIWA wishes to let myths military authority to accept it as noteworthy that the four Geneva Conventions and the two additional Protocols of 1977 have been formally given effect in Nigeria by the enactment of the Geneva Conventions Act Cap G3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. In sum, the Conventions and Protocols which are now an Act of the National Assembly, elaborately spell out the laws of armed conflicts on the use of force and the legal implication of disregarding rules regulating the means and methods of warfare, among other things. Specifically, section 3 of the Act provides for trial and punishment for breach of the Geneva Conventions as follows: In case of grave breach involving willful killing of a person protected by the Convention, sentence of death; In any other such grave breach, imprisonment for 14 years.”

CODEINE SYRUP FIASCO: HURIWA CONDEMNS Government's PANIC BAN: *Say ban hasn't stopped widespread abuses of other drugs:*

The frontline Non-governmental and human rights body- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) says it has found out that the outright ban on the production of codeine cough syrup in Nigeria has not stopped the phenomenal abuses of many other medicines by some unruly young persons around the Country just as it has faulted the unwise and harsh decision which must have led to great financial misfortunes for the over 30 legitimate pharmaceutical companies licensed by NAFDAC to produce codeine containing cough syrups as well as widespread unemployment of about 10,000 staffs who were hitherto employed in these firms.

Codeine containing cough syrups have been available in the country for over 40 years and have been used therapeutically to suppress and cure coughs in many patients who have used them according to instructions for use stated by the manufacturers on the packs of these drugs. They are drugs which when used according to specified instructions gives desired outcome and like many other drugs, it's liable to abuse by people.

HURIWA stated that it deliberately decided not to react to the outright ban of the production of the codeine syrups because it had commissioned researchers to proceed to the streets of major cities and towns to sample scientific and empirical evidences regarding the impacts or otherwise of the ban on the production of Codeine Cough syrups due to the rampant abuses by some misbehaving and misdirected youngsters as portrayed in the British Broadcasting Corporation documentary that led to this uproar but affirmed that after about three weeks of generating and gathering first-hand information and observations, it has come to the conclusion that the decision to hastily ban the production of Codeine Cough syrups was irrational, Panicky, unscientific, unreliable and has not in any way deterred or reduced the rates of drug abuse since the addicts have resulted to procuring other drugs and substances of abuse which will eventually be on the high side and uncontrollable like Codeine.

HURIWA has therefore asked government to have a rethink on these hasty and miscalculated steps by introducing greater regulations of the commercial marketing of prescriptive drugs including Codeine Cough syrups which it has found out to be one of the most effective cough treatment drugs. HURIWA also expects the Government to focus much more on abusers, look for lasting ways of reducing the number of people abusing these drugs rather than bringing their hammer down on certified Pharmaceutical companies which has contributed in many ways to the growth and development of this Country including employing people, contributing to the growth of the economy among many other things.

HURIWA stated thus: “Based on field research and eye witness accounts our team generated during a well-coordinated three week's data collections, we have found out that contrary to the not so well thought out reasons for the hasty ban of production of cough syrup containing codeine by pharmaceutical companies hitherto producing these Cough syrups by the Federal government based on a report published by the British Broadcasting corporation on abuses of the syrups by youths, we found out that these youths who are hooked up in the habit of abusing these and many other drugs are still getting supplies of other drugs of abuse and indeed this policy of halting the production within Nigeria was not a good decision to have embarked on. The Federal government was wrong to have adopted this regimented decision to stop pharmaceutical companies in the Country hitherto producing Codeine Cough syrups without looking at other much more sophisticated methods of halting the abuses of these useful anti cough syrup which is very popular amongst genuine patients".

The Federal government didn't even consider the fact that these over 30 companies banned from producing these drugs may have borrowed credit facilities from banks running into hundreds of millions of US dollars to purchase the NAFDAC approved quantity of codeine raw material for their various companies and may have entered into contractual agreements on repayments and servicing of these debts. How does government intend to help these firms to meet up their financial obligations to their creditors? Will they pay for the legitimately obtained raw materials- codeine which NAFDAC has put on hold? What happens to the genuine patients who prefer Codeine Cough syrups due to their efficacy to cure their medical conditions? Why should government stop the production of Codeine Cough syrups only because some deviant youths in various parts of the country and base on just a one-hour documentary? Would the Government close breweries because many people are consuming high quantity of beer and perhaps committing atrocities in the society as a result of its consumption? Would the Government have closed Tobacco Company as many people are abusing it as well? Would the Government ban some chemicals useful in analysis in laboratories because it is being used to produce explosive by a few hoodlums in the Society? If robberies become so high as they are now, so Buhari's administration will order the closure of banks to stop the criminality of bank robberies? Or will this government stop the use of computers because cybercrimes have become sophisticated in Nigeria? The stoppage of the production of Codeine Cough syrups is not only unwise but is discriminatory because it has denied those genuine patients in their millions whose body system welcomes the efficacy of the curative solutions they derive legitimately by taking these codeine Cough syrups according to doctor's prescriptions. The Government of Nigeria should allow for the production of these Codeine Cough syrups but must put strict measures in place to ensure that they are not sold openly but rather prescribed by doctors under strict regulations and supervision by relevant health institutions. The distribution of these medicines by Pharmaceutical industries can also be closely monitored by relevant agencies including NAFDAC, the Pharmacists' Council of Nigeria among others".

Nigerian Government should encourage growth of industries in the Country and not kill them with some of their uncalled for decisions which are capable of ruining not just these companies but also the staffs these companies have employed.

It's never too late for the Federal government to retrace its steps and do the needful by reversing their earlier decisions and look for better ways of tackling the situation at hand.

A stitch they say, saves nine.

HURIWA TO BUHARI – Rein In Your Politically Ambitious Ministers: *Criticises Buhari for applauding mines and Solid mineral minister for emerging victorious as gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti:

 

“The overwhelming interests displayed by serving ministers and the amount of man-hour spent pursuing their selfish political ambitions are a major drawback to the successful implementation of governmental policies aimed at addressing the mounting challenges of survival by millions of poor Nigerian homes and this has rendered the federal cabinet of the current administration rudderless and in a dangerous auto-plot level at grave costs to the public. At the last count, the ministers of Communications; Mines and Solid minerals; Transportation; Foreign Affairs were at the frontlines of violent infighting during the just ended Ward and local government primary elections of the All progressives congress. The Minister of Women Affairs who vowed to follow Atiku Abubakar if he quits the ruling party is virtually not working for the public good and seems to have disappeared into thin air whilst investors in the nation's real sector have reportedly lost a whooping N729 billions due to apprehensions created by the factional infighting that characterise the preparations for the year 2019 elections.”

With the above affirmation, a leading civil rights body – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has advocated the immediate dissolution and reconstitution of the near- moribund executive council of the federation by President Muhammadu Buhari so the ship of state will not continue to remain adrift and dangerously sinking.

HURIWA also faulted the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to commend his Solid minerals minister for emerging victorious in the governorship primary election in Ekiti State even when the said minister absconded from his national duties as federal cabinet minister to pursue his private political aspirations whilst still holding on to the public office and enjoying all the privileges and advantages over and above other co-contestants in the same party.

Besides, President Buhari has been urged to sack all his ministers with an eye towards the 2019 elections so as to restore efficient and effective governance which died the moment president Buhari signified his intention to seek for re-election in the 2019 polls. The group has warned of severe economic challenges should the direction and focus of the Federal government continues to be dominated by the politics of 2019.

HURIWA said President Buhari must relieve his ministers now of their onerous political positions on the ground of principle and national ethics because it is absolutely immoral that serving cabinet level officials are still paid from public treasury whilst they are actively campaigning for higher political offices. They group condemned the activities of some of the ministers who have cornered battalions of soldiers and armed police to use these armed security operatives to fight to achieve their selfish political goals even when ordinary Nigerians are being slaughtered by armed Fulani herdsmen and other hoodlums.

In a media statement jointly endorsed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said constitutionally, the ministers were picked to assist the president to implement pro-people policies and are not to be paid whilst they are advancing their selfish political ambitions. "This misconduct of pursuing selfish political aggrandizement whilst holding on to public offices is a constitutional violation which must not continue".

HURIWA cited section 148 (1) (2) (a) (b) (c) and 149 of the 1999 constitution on why serving ministers who nurse ambitions for elective offices should quit or be dismissed forthwith.
Specifically, section 148. (1) Provides thus: "The President may, in his discretion, assign to the Vice-President or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government. (2) The President shall hold regular meetings with the Vice-President and all the Ministers of the Government of the Federation for the purposes of - (a) Determining the general direction of domestic and foreign policies of the Government of the Federation; (b) co-ordinating the activities of the President, the Vice-President and the Ministers of the Government of the Federation in the discharge of their executive responsibilities; and (c) advising the President generally in discharge of his executive functions other than those functions with respect to which he is required by this Constitution to seek the advice or act on the recommendation of any other person or body. 149. A Minister of the Government of the Federation shall not enter upon the duties of his office, unless he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution and has subsequently taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office for the due execution of the duties of his office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution."

HURIWA cited instances whereby the ministers such as those of Communications and foreign affairs were seen organizing parallel ward and local government primary elections of the All progressives congress thereby neglecting their national calling as cabinet level ministers has demonstrated the veracity in the widely held claim that the current Federal Executive Council is dead. The Rights group also referred to the alleged ignominious role of the Transportation Minister in Rivers State even as the group has therefore demanded that those ministers who have been seen abandoning their mandate to seek personal political glories should be sacked.

BIRNIN GWARI KILLINGS: HURIWA WANTS STATE OF EMERGENCY IN KADUNA:

*condemns Gov. Elruffai's hate speech against senators;

A prominent civil Rights organization-HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked the Federal Government to declare a state of security emergency in Kaduna State so as to enforce full military measures to battle and combat the growing scourge of armed militancy and deliberate mass killings of innocent villagers in Birnin Gwari and Southern Kaduna State. 

HURIWA demanded comprehensive military actions to stop these incessant killings even as the Rights group reminded the President that constitutionally if he can't stop the killings all over the Country, the law demands that either he steps down voluntarily or be impeached through legislative means. "It is in the self-enlightened interest of our President that he concentrate, suspend political campaign activities for 2019 polls, and remain focus towards finding lasting practical solutions to all these killings. Enough is enough Sir and posterity may record your administration as the worst in the history of Nigeria and this bad historical trajectory will inevitably rubbish any legacy the President may have erected. 

Besides, HURIWA has carpeted the Kaduna State governor Mr Nassir Elruffai for stoking the embers of hatred and instigating politically motivated violence against his political adversaries through the issuance of hate messages purportedly cursing the three Senators from Kaduna State for halting the approval of a loan of over $300 million from the World Bank. 

HURIWA said the statement credited to the Governor during a political rally last weekend was not just mere hate messages but was capable of bringing about political instability and breach of peace in the entire State since the Senators are direct representatives of the various constituencies that make up the State. The group has resolved to write to the United Nations and the European commission to demand that they place the person of Governor Nassir Elruffai on their watch list as a serious security threat. 

HURIWA has also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the national hierarchy of the All progressives congress which sponsored the President and also the Kaduna state governor in the year 2015 poll to take concrete and verifiable actions to stop the Kaduna state governor from further instigating targeted violent attacks against the three serving Senators of Kaduna state extraction. 

On the incessant bloodshed occasioned by armed bandits and armed Fulani terrorism, the Rights group expressed displeasure that even with the strategic position of Kaduna State as one State with nearly 35 percent of Nigeria's military assets, armed hoodlums including armed Fulani herdsmen are operating freely and unleashing bloody violence of unprecedented level leading to the killings of hundreds of innocent lives and the destruction of property valued at several billions. 

HURIWA has therefore asked the National Assembly to pass a binding resolution to compel the Federal Government to adopt a number of far reaching constitutional measures including the declaration of a state of security emergency in Kaduna State so the full weight of the armed security forces are deployed appropriately at the flashpoints of these dastardly bloody attacks to clinically degrade and neutralize those threats to peace and security of Kaduna State. HURIWA has also condemned the rubber stamped Kaduna State House of Assembly for failing to use legislative measures to force the Kaduna state governor to be civil and law abiding and to stop using hate speeches that threatens the peace and security of the State just as the Rights group reminded the Kaduna state House of Assembly that the promotion of peace and security was the primary constitutional mandate given to them by virtue of section 7 of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended).

"HURIWA is shocked beyond comprehension that the Kaduna State House of Assembly did nothing when the governor admitted paying public money to some armed Fulani herdsmen so as to convince them to stop killing the largely Christian indigenes of Southern Kaduna State. The State Assembly against the clear constitutional provision to make laws for security and peace of the State has done nothing whilst the population of Southern Kaduna and Birnin Gwari communities is being decimated by suspected armed Islamists and bandits who may have the conviction that they enjoy the backing of the powers that be. This is sad. The National Assembly must look at the possibility of taking over the law making activities of Kaduna State until such a time that peace and security are restored."

HURIWA recalled that  armed persons on Saturday attacked residents of Gwaska village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area at about 2:30 p.m., residents of the council area just as the bandits reportedly came from neighboring Dansadau village of Zamfara State, about 10 minutes’ drive to Birnin Gwari, residents said.

 HURIWA was informed by a security source that Several houses in the village of about 5000 residents were also set ablaze even as an erstwhile Birnin Gwari Local Government chairman who does not want his name mentioned for security reasons confirmed the incident to the media and described the attack as the worst in the troubled area.

HURIWA quoted the eye witness as stating thus: “These bandits attacked the village in broad daylight and killed many people. They even killed the village Sarkin Fawa (Head of local vigilante) on his way back to the village. Nobody can tell you the exact number of people killed because even on the way to the village 15 bodies were scattered on the road. He said until soldiers are deployed to the area, nobody can go there to ascertain the number of people killed. Police can’t end these killings in Birnin Gwari. We need more soldiers in the area to curtail the killings of our people,” he said.

In the considered thinking of HURIWA, since Birnin Gwari has witnessed several attacks by bandits leading to the death of scores of people including soldiers and police officers, it behoves on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to declare a state of security emergency in Kaduna State so verifiable and effective military measures are implemented to reverse the evil trends of targeted mass killings by a range of armed freelance killers including but not limited to armed Fulani herdsmen. The National Assembly must look into this grave threat to National security and compel the executive arm to enforce the laws against genocide and targeted killings. 

Soldiers’ burning of Benue community is a crime against humanity:- says HURIWA

Describing it as the most despicable crime against humanity, a leading civil rights body – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the reported burning by soldiers of 300 houses in Naka, in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue state.

HURIWA has also condemned the reported harassment of civilians by soldiers of civilians in Taraba State and charged them to go after armed Fulani herdsmen launching incessant attacks on farming communities.

The group has therefore tasked the chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai to fish out the soldiers responsible for this dastardly crime against humanity and civility so they are prosecuted and punished by the competent court of law.

Besides, HURIWA has asked the military high command to immediately carry out comprehensive assessment of The area whereby it's men carried put coordinated and willful arson with the hope of rebuilding the burnt houses and ensure payment of compensations to the civilians rendered homeless and injured by the heartless and horrendous pre-meditated attacks reportedly launched by irate soldiers. HURIWA also condemned the burning to death of a sick old man by the rampaging soldiers. 

In a media statement endorsed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA which also condemned the reported killing of a soldier which led to the burning of 300 houses in the Benue Community, however stated that the military as an institution created by the constitution cannot resort to self-help measures. HURIWA has therefore asked law enforcement agents to use lawful means to fish out the killers of the soldier so they are made to face the full weight of the law. 

The Rights group regretted that whilst on one hand the hierarchy of the Army seems to be telling the public that it has set up departments for promotion of civil/military relations and human rights, some unruly soldiers lacking professionalism and discipline are involved in the pre-meditated violent attack of a whole community in retaliation for the killing of a soldier.

Wondering why the soldiers did not allow the due process of the law to take place so the properly constituted law enforcement mechanisms are activated to provide redress and justice for the unwarranted murder of the soldier, HURIWA challenged the federal government to ensure that this gross abuse of the human rights of Naka community is rapidly redressed and the soldiers responsible arrested, prosecuted and punished.

“The adoption of self-help measures and the violent setting ablaze of civilian places of habitation because of the dastardly crime of the murder in cold blood of a soldier is in direct confrontation to the rule of engagement and the provisions of the constitution which in section 6 provides that only the courts of competent jurisdiction can bring about civilized sanctions on convicted offenders.”

The Rights group lamented that soldiers have continued to attack communities after every provocation by the civil populace right from the erstwhile president Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration till date just as it stated that soldiers must be made subservient to the constitution and the laws of the nation state since no institution is bigger than the law.

“We absolutely condemn this reckless conduct of these soldiers who proceeded to set ablaze a community only because one of the soldiers was killed. What has become the place of law and order? How can a constitutional democracy be sustained as a practice in Nigeria if armed security forces decide to inflict collective punishment on an entire community for perceived offence of some unknown hoodlums who may not even be the residents of the said community?”

HURIWA recalled that Some gunmen in Nigerian Army uniform invaded Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, and set over 300 houses ablaze. Also in the early hours of  of same day, armed Fulani herdsmen launched an attack on Agasha, a community near Governor Samuel Ortom’s district and killed six people.

HURIWA recalled that these developments in Benue came even as Governor Dairus Ishaku of Taraba state raised the alarm over the increased harassment of people of Taraba State by military personnel sent to fight killer herdsmen operating in the area. 

HURIWA recalled that the Gwer West Local Government Chairman, Mr. Francis Ayagah, told journalists that the said soldiers stormed the area about 11am and began burning houses. Ayagah could not immediately confirm casualty figures, but said the ‘soldiers’ were on a reprisal over the killing of one of their colleagues near the community on Wednesday. He said: “A soldier was allegedly killed by hoodlums on Wednesday, but I met with the Brigade Commander about 4:30amtoday (yesterday).” Ayagah added that over 300 houses were burnt.

HURIWA quoted the local council boss as admitting that the Brigade commander gave him a list of suspects and that his officials from his local council of Gwer west arrested five of them overnight just as he stated that it was while they were trying to take them to the brigade commander that soldiers stormed the town and started burning houses. 

HURIWA recalled that the local council boss stated thus: “A whole part of the town has been completely burnt down and we are appealing for help and understanding from the soldiers,” the chairman said. He added that homes of citizens were mostly affected rather than those of the suspected killers of the soldier."

HURIWA recalled that the local government Information Officer, Mr. Francis Ugbede, said a 65-year-old man, who was sick and could not be carried when the soldiers invaded the community, was burnt inside one of the buildings. The operation lasted over two hours within which more than 300 houses and property worth billions of naira were destroyed. Naka is about 45 kilometers from Makurdi, the state capital.

HURIWA has therefore tasked the Army's high command which recently launched military rules of engagement that obliges armed soldiers to abide by due process of the law, to set up internal probe panel to determine the identities of the soldiers that undertook the burning of Naka community with a view to bringing justice to them for carrying out this dastardly crime against humanity. "A situation whereby soldiers or police takes the law into their hands and go after perceived killers of their operative and in the process expose an entire community to violence of unmitigated proportions must not be normalized in Nigeria of this 21st century".

PRRESS BRIEFING ON THE SPECIAL HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATIVE WORK DONE BY SIX HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP UNDER THE AUSPICES OF HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA IN TARABA STATE.

Six NGOS working with Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria on 11^th April arrived Taraba state on a special Human Rights investigative work which took us about five days.

On our stay in Jalingo capital of Taraba state, we were able to visit the three senatorial districts. The North, South and Central. The following information was gathered from our trip.

On 13^th of April the team visited the northern senatorial district. Lau Local Government and the following villages were covered; Lainde Jessi a village where they were attacked during a burial of victims according to one of the villagers Evangelist John CRCM church. 

He said that crisis and fight was not serious in Lainde Jessi that it was at night that they came and attacked them but it was only one boy that was killed and the villagers protested and went to bury the boy then the attackers came and attacked them and five (5) men were killed at the process and houses were burnt down. 

This happened in LAU LGA and we proceeded to a village called Katibu where the entire villages were wiped out within a day by the Fulani Herdsmen in just a night all in the Northeast and Northern senatorial district of Taraba State Jalingo.

14^th of April 2018, the team proceeded to the Southern part of the state; we headed to Takum Local Government Area where the team met a group of protesters with black coloured inscriptions demanding for the withdrawal of the Army.

 The team was informed that they were highly brutalized by the Nigerian Army and were disarmed even when they are not protected and are killed on a daily basis and the Army also went ahead stealing their belongings such as money, phones and foods and as well arresting their youths for doing nothing. The military denied this allegation. 

On the 15^th of April, the team covered the central senatorial district covering Geshaka, Bali, Mambilla and Gembu where many structures were destroyed and the military are still on ground to maintain peace within the community. The team observed that activities are going on well both Fulani’s and the community are living together and grazing is still going on.one of the victims discloses to the team that the attacks are mostly at night.

From the totality of our findings in Taraba State and drawing from the ugly reports from Benue, Nasarawa and other affected states, we are convinced that what is going on is not herders versus farmers clashes but pure acts of terrorism by armed Fulani herdsmen. The federal government clearly has failed to fulfill the constitutional obligation which clearly specifies that the security and welfare of the citizens are the primary objectives of Government as enshrined in section 14 (2) (b) of the Nigerian constitution of 1999 (as amended). Section 14 (2) (b) states thus: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

From our observations in Taraba State, we met a citizenry that have lost hope that government especially the federal government has the will power and political will to discharge the binding constitutional obligation to protect their lives and properties from the well-coordinated attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen.

Therefore, we recommend that the State Houses of Assemblies should draw strength from part II, section 7 of the constitution and create armed vigilants to provide the necessary complimentary security of lives and property of Nigerians in those states.

Part II, section 7 of the Nigerian constitution states thus: “The House of Assembly of State shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the state or any part thereof with respect to the following matters, that is to say- (a) any matter not included in the Exclusive legislative list set out in Part I of the second schedule to this constitution; (b) any matter included in the concurrent legislative list set out in the first column of Part II of the second schedule to this constitution to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto; and (c) any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.”

We totally condemn the invasion of armed thugs into, the National Assembly and we suspect that these hoodlums are uncomfortable with the disposition of the senate in condemning the lack of efficiency and effectiveness by the armed security forces to stop the mass murders by armed Fulani herdsmen. 

We condemn the attempts to destabilize the National Assembly and hereby call on Nigerians to defend the institution of legislature so a law can be made to permit for compulsory military training for all adult Nigerians and the liberalisation of licenses to carry gun so sane Nigerians can be able to defend themselves from being killed. 

This is in line with section 220 (1) of the constitution which states thus: “The federation shall establish and maintain adequate facilities for carrying into effect any Act of the National Assembly providing for compulsory military training or military service for citizens of Nigeria.”

 Government must declare Miyetti Allah Cattle Owners Association as a terrorists group, arrest and prosecute mass murderers and ensure that they are punished. Government must never pamper mass.

*Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko; National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).

NEMA Boss, Maihaja, Awarded N3bn Rice Supply Contract To Two Unqualified Companies: NEMA Spent N400M on demurrage to clear 50 percent of China Rice Gift IDPs – DG says

As Reps Ask, FIRS, EFCC, Others To Appear Over NEMA Probe, Order -…Orders Recall of Suspended NEMA Staff.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has disclosed that it has so far spent 400 million naira on demurrage on rice donated to the internally displaced people in the North East in 2017 by the government of China.

This is just as the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness again queried the director general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engineer Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, over the engagement of companies that were unqualified for contracts running into billions of naira.

The House also summoned the chairman of the governing council of NEMA, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo or his representative,  the EFCC, DSS, ICPC, accountant general of the federation, Ministries of Agric,  Budget and National Planning and other relevant agencies to appear in its next meeting to provide information on issues under probe by the House.

At the investigative hearing of the House on NEMA for violation of public trust on Thursday, the committee was informed that the 6,779 metric tonnes of Chinese rice which arrived in July, 2017 in 271 containers stayed uncleared in the ports for 6 months before NEMA could get documents to commence the clearing process on December 4.

The DG said though 161 million naira has been spent in addition to the 400 million naira on transportation, delivery and logistics, the agency could not confirm that the rice has been received and accepted by the IDPs.

He also added that out of the 271 containers, only 110 have so far been cleared and taken to the north east.

Similarly, the agency was drilled for awarding 3 billion naira worth of rice supply contract to Olam Nigeria Limited and Two Brothers, when they did not even have Tax Identification Number (TIN) and has not been paying PENCOM dues for their staff.

The director general, however, said the contracts were awarded during emergency period so the agency did not do due process on the companies.

But the lawmakers maintained that that was not an excuse for the breach of extant laws that guide procurement in Nigeria, and that it is curious that in spite of not meeting requirements, the agency was bent on awarding it to Olam and Three Brothers, when other competent companies could have been engaged. 

The director, Relief and Rehabilitation, in NEMA, Mr Kayode Fagbemi, who signed the contract award letter, informed the committee the 3 billion worth of 10 thousand metric tonnes of rice contract awarded to Olam Nigeria Limited  and Three Brothers, was done on the directive of the director general even though it did not comply with procurement process.

The director general of NEMA, also explained that though Pension Commission (PENCOM) and FIRS did not certify the companies to be qualified to do those contracts at the time the contracts were awarded, they provided the required documents before the certificate of due diligence was awarded by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Meanwhile, the House committee has called for the recall of the six staff of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), saying the process of their suspension by the agency did not follow the Civil Service guidelines.

This is just as it summoned the governing council of NEMA, the EFCC, DSS, ICPC, PENCOM, FIRS, accountant general of the federation, Ministries of Agric,  Budget and National Planning and other relevant agencies to appear in its next meeting to provide information on issues under investigation by the House.

 Following the presentation of the Human Resource director of the agency, Mr Baba Inde, the members said it was apparent that due process was not followed as there was no compliance to Civil Service Rules as related to suspension of senior staff in the service.

Peace in Sokoto APC enhanced as Gov Tambuwal, Senator Dahiru settle rift

The longstanding political feud threatening the foundation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State have been settled, with the principal actors, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Senator Umaru Dahiru Tambuwal attending a function together for the first time since 2014.

The former allies went their separate ways in December 2014 after the former Speaker of the House of Representatives defeated the ex chairman of Senate Committee on Judiciary to emerge the flag bearer of the APC for the April 2015 Sokoto governorship election.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, Senator Dahiru challenged the outcome and twice lost at the trial and appellate courts, before he was prevailed upon not to take the matter to the Supreme Court.

A source in Sokoto revealed that community elders and religious leaders intervened to ensure that the former allies are now back on the same page politically.

“It is true they have been settled. That was why the former Senator visited the Governor’s house in Sokoto on Saturday to attend a wedding ceremony. In the past, he had avoided such gatherings but this time, to prove that all past differences have been settled; he came to the venue and went straight to greet the Governor. He was also offered a seat in the front row and took part in all the activities as a respected family member,” said the source who declined to be named.

Further details revealed that the Senator has now accepted to join hands with Tambuwal and other APC stakeholders to move Sokoto forward.

“Since the reconciliation, he has privately expressed his joy at how the APC has been steering the ship of state. He has commended Governor Tambuwal on his stewardship and has given commitment to give his support to the success of the administration.”

Meanwhile, reports indicate that many of the former Senator’s allies and immediate family members have been co-opted into the running of the government as a sign of goodwill. 

HURIWA drags University Don to Buhari; NUC FOR HATE MESSAGE

The prominent pro-democracy and Non-governmental organisation- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has dragged a Mass communications lecturer of the Bayero University Kano Malam Bala Mohammed to President Muhammadu Buhari; the Education minister Malam Adamu Adamu; the National University Commission and the National Human Rights Commission demanding his suspension and prosecution for spreading hate message against Igbo Ethnicity. 

HURIWA has also resolved to proceed to drag the said lecturer to all law enforcement agencies should the relevant educational authorities fail to do the needful to relieve him of his work in the University and charge him to Court for attempting to instigate Ethnic genocide against Igbo people in the North whom he blamed for causing drug abuses by Northern Youth. 

HURIWA wrote thus: "May we write you this urgent letter to call your attention to a statement in the press attributed to one Malam Bala Mohammed who was identified as a lecturer in the mass communications department of the Bayero University –which is a federal university under the charge of the federal ministry of education with His Excellency Mr. President as the visitor."

"Sir, in a publication carried by a popular national newspaper – Vanguard, the said Malam Bala Mohammed was quoted without any shreds of empirical proofs to have heaped the blame on the entire Igbo race for the spread of drug addiction in the North."

"This self-acclaimed lecturer in a very strategic federal educational institution in a region bedeviled by inter-ethnic and inter religious crises was sensationally quoted as spreading this hate filled stereotype against Igbo nation as if to say crime has an ethnic colouration."

"As journalists, we can emphatically state that this fallacious affirmation by this Malam Bala Mohammed was made in bad faith with the aim of instigating hate crime targeting all members of the Igbo ethnic group resident in Northern Nigeria".

"A simple check of this hate filled ethnic crime's instigating publication titled “Don says Igbo behind drug abuse in the North” reveals the need to ensure that this must be investigated and the so-called lecturer viewed as agent provocateur who may have been briefed to create inter-ethnic disquiet and by so doing cause the monumental destruction of the lives and property of millions of law abiding and peace loving Igbo resident in Northern Nigeria". 

"It is trite that in almost all inter-ethnic crises and inter-religious violence in Northern Nigeria; the Igbo have always suffered heavy casualties even in crises that they know nothing about. Usually, it is such meaningless provocations from the academia in the North that in flames passion and result in targeted attacks against Igbo people". 

"May we pray the Federal Ministry of Education to suspend this agent of destabilization to stop him from further spreading his message which is capable of leading to ethnic hate crime against Igbo in the North". 

"Recall that after the 2011 general election, a lot of Igbo people were slaughtered by political hoodlums on the ground that they voted for PDP."

"That this said Malam Bala Mohammed read out his hate speech to Northern Youth shows his criminal intention to spark off ethnic genocide only few months after the ill-fated quit notice issued to Igbo by Northern youth was suspended."

"After critically reviewing some of the fallacies spewed out as a public lecture, we wonder why such a hate messenger is designated as a mass communication’s lecturer in a federal institution which in the first instance ought to promote inter-ethnic harmony and engender national cohesion." 

"Recall sir that in this same Kano state, a 73 year old Mrs. Bridget Agbamihe from Imo state was killed by a mob of Islamic fundamentalists who accused her of blasphemy. Till date those who killed this woman are roaming the streets of Kano without justice meted out to them and the husband is constantly threatened for demanding justice."

"Malam Bala Mohammed if left as a lecturer in this institution (Bayero University Kano) is capable of polluting the moral compass of the youth and poison their young minds to see every Igbo person as guilty of selling drugs when scientifically, the sale of hard drugs are done by diverse persons of all ethnicities." 

"There is no science-based evidence to justify this hate message of Bala Mohammed."

“In a paper, titled: “Nexus between youth, drugs, crime and insecurity”, Malam Mohammed wondered why drug abuse was not prevalent in the southeast region, but the Igbo people resorted to supply illicit drugs to the northern.”

“The university Don said “our investigation revealed that drug abuse is beyond normal marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, etc, it has moved to the extent that the medicines we take in order to cure our diseases are now being converted into hard drugs.”

"But these statements are toxic fallacies manufactured to create ethnic tension. This man spreading this hate filled messages against Igbo is bereft of any idea on how drug addictions are affecting different communities all across Nigeria. He is dead wrong to conclude that there is no drug menace in the East because social crime of cultism and other violence are engendered by drug abuses and these crimes are found in every segments of the society. Why is this Malam Bala Mohammed spreading hate messages to instigate Ethnic unrest targeting Igbo in Northern Nigeria? The relevant law enforcement agencies should arrest and prosecute him". 

HURIWA' s National Coordinator signed the petition which has been forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of Education; Executive Secretary of National University Commission and the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission. 

Looters’ lists: HURIWA wants Lai Mohammed; Abubakar Malami disbarred:

Believing that the recent releases in batches of what it calls looters' lists violates constitutional tenets of fair hearing, due process of the law and impugns the constitutional integrity of the Court system in Nigeria in accordance with section 6 of the Nigerian constitution, the prominent Civil rights body – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has resolved to petition the Nigerian Bar Association to begin the process of disbarring the duo of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the information minister and Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN) the federal Attorney General from practicing as lawyers in Nigeria.

Rising from its emergency executive committee’s meeting in Owerri, Imo State, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA in a media statement by its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Director of Media Miss Zainab Yusuf stated that the action of listing persons whose cases are in courts as if they are already convicted does not just violate section 36 (5) which is the constitutional plank of fair hearing but has rubbished the credibility and integrity of the judicial arm of government and graphically depicted Nigeria to the rest of the civilized world as a “banana Republic”.

HURIWA affirmed that the systematic undermining of the integrity of the judicial institution which the releases of the looters’ lists constitute, becomes even more disturbing when it is clear that both the number one law officer and Attorney General of the federation and the minister of information being lawyers have seriously committed serial professional misconducts which are even frowned against by the extant professional ethical codes of conduct which is a statutory law of the federation of Nigeria just as the Rights group said it has already drafted a petition to the hierarchy of the Nigerian Bar Association asking it to professionally disbar the duo.

“We are of the firm beliefs that the duo of Lai Mohammed and Malami who have decidedly rubbished the legal profession and lampooned the constitution should be barred from ever practicing unless and except the Nigerian Bar Association has become an all comers’ affair whereby professional rascality is tolerated. We believe that the duo as cabinet ministers who are both lawyers ought to have known the weight of allowing such outrageous violation of naming as criminals, persons who in the eyes of the Law are deemed innocent until contrary proofs are adopted and determined by competent courts of the law must be sanctioned in the severest of ways in line with extant professional codes”.

Section 6 (1) of the constitution states as follows: “The judicial powers of the federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the federation.”

Section 36 (5) of the constitution which guarantees fair hearing to all litigants states as follows: “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty, provided that nothing in this section shall invalidate any law by reason only that the law imposes upon any such person the burden of proving particular facts.”

“It is our firm belief that the minister of information who directly published the damaging lists of looters and the justice minister who kept calm in the face of this professional misconduct by the information minister of the same government are guilty of professional misconducts covered under the legal practitioners’ Act.”

HURIWA argued that by rushing to persecute certain persons as looters even when the federal government being the prosecutor has not successfully obtained conviction violates Article 3 (a) and (d) of the legal practitioners Act; chapter 207, laws of the federation of Nigeria which states thus: “(a) during the trial, the lawyer should always display a dignified and respectful attitude towards the judge presiding, not for the sake of his person, but for maintenance of respect for and confidence in the judicial office. It is both the right and duty of the lawyer fully and properly to present his client's case and to insist on an opportunity to do so. He should vigorously present all proper arguments against any ruling he deems erroneous and should see to it that a complete and accurate case record is made. In this regard, he should not be deterred by any fear of judicial displeasure or even punishment. In no circumstances should the lawyer reveal the confidences of his client; (d) a lawyer ought not to engage in the exchange of banter personalities, argument or controversy with opposing counsel. His objections, requests and observations should in every case be addressed to the judge presiding.”

The Rights group said the disclosure by information minister approved by the Justice minister listing out litigants as looters also violates Article 4 (b) of the legal practitioners Act which states as follows: “It is not candid or fair for the lawyer knowingly to misquote the contents of a paper, the testimony of a witness, the language or the argument of opposing counsel, or the language of a decision or a textbook; or with knowledge of its invalidity, to cite as authority a decision that has been over-ruled, or a statute that has been repealed; or in argument to assert as a fact that which has not been proved, or in those jurisdictions where a side has the opening and closing arguments, to mislead his opponent by concealing or withholding in his opening argument positions upon which his side intends to rely.”

HURIWA also pointed out that the duo in publishing the lists of looters are in breach of Article 27 of the legal practitioners Act which averred that: “Newspaper comment by a lawyer on pending or anticipated litigation may interfere with a fair trial in the Courts and otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice. It is to be avoided save in exceptional circumstances. A particular case may possibly justify a statement to the public, but it is unprofessional to make it anonymously. An ex parte reference to the facts should not go beyond quotation from the records and papers on file in the court, and is better avoided entirely.”