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Date: | Fri, 2 Nov 2001 16:29:46 EST |
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Nigeria: Hold Military to Account
Bush Meeting with Obasanjo Should Address Killings
(New York, November 1, 2001) -- In advance of Nigerian President
Olusegun Obasanjo's meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, Human
Rights Watch urged Bush to raise concerns about the recent massacre by
soldiers in Benue State, Central Nigeria. President
Obasanjo is due to meet separately with President Bush and Secretary of
State Colin Powell on Friday, November 2 to discuss anti-terrorism
measures.
“The anti-terrorism agenda must not prevent President Bush from
condemning human rights violations
by the Nigerian security forces,” said Peter Takirambudde, executive
director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa division. “Failure to raise
these concerns just days after the
Nigerian army killed unarmed civilians and destroyed homes and
property would send a dangerous signal about U.S. commitment to human
rights in Nigeria.”
Human Rights Watch issued a statement on October 25 condemning the
actions of the Nigerian military in Benue State. The soldiers were
apparently acting in revenge for the earlier killing of 19 soldiers
attributed to an armed group. Initial figures indicated that at least
100 people had been killed in the military reprisal that began on
October 22, but on the basis of information received since then, Human
Rights Watch believes that the real civilian toll is likely to be
significantly higher. The situation in the area remains critical, with
tens of thousands of people displaced by the violence.
President Obasanjo has thus far failed to condemn the army's actions.
“We deplore the absence of any recognition on the part of the government
of the gravity of what happened in Benue,” said Takirambudde. “If the
U.S. Government considers Nigeria to be a close ally, it has a
responsibility to condemn these atrocities and urge President Obasanjo
to investigate the events and bring those responsible to justice.”
For more information on Nigeria, please see:
Nigeria: Soldiers Massacre Civilians in Revenge Attack in Benue State
(HRW Press Release, October 25, 2001) at
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/10/nigeria1025.htm
Nigeria: Key Human Rights Watch Documents at
http://www.hrw.org/africa/index.php
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