Tuesday, 09 February 2010 11:52
Share Link: 
Nigerian police and military units carried out extrajudicial killings last year in the aftermath of clashes with members of a Muslim group in the north of the country, footage obtained by media appears to confirm.
An estimated 1,000 people were killed as Nigerian government forces fought Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe, Kano and Bauchi states in July and August 2009.
But the footage obtained by media shows that many of the deaths occurred once the fighting was over.
Elements of the police and army staged a follow-up operation in which house-to-house searches were conducted and individuals were apparently selected at random and taken to a police station.
'Shoot him in the chest'
In the video, a number of unarmed men are seen being made to lie down in the road outside a building before they are shot.
As one man is brought out to face death, one of the officers can be heard urging his colleague to "shoot him in the chest not the head - I want his hat".
As the executions continue another man is told: "Sit properly we want to take your picture."
The shootings continue as a crowd gathers further up the street in front of the police station.
Voices can be heard saying: "No mercy, no mercy."
After the executions, the army officer who appears to have been in charge of the operation is seen to be handing over command to a senior police officer. Both men are clearly identified by the name tags on their chests.
The family of Baba Fugu Mohammed, a respected community leader, said that he was among those put to death outside the police station.
"He was killed, he was killed, that's what we believe. He was shot by the police," one relative said.
Fugu Mohammed was the father-in-law of Mohammed Yusuf, the Boko Haram leader whose group had battled the police, but the two had become estranged.
His family said that he had come to help police restore order, but was shot.
'Killings of the innocent'
In the days following the clashes between the police and Boko Haram, the government, police and military repeatedly denied that civilians had been killed by their personnel.
But Nigerian officials have since acknowledged that extrajudicial killings took place and an inquiry was set up to investigate the incident.
"It was obvious [from] what we have seen and from the eye witnesses that the government police were doing the killings of the innocent," Abubakar Umar Garda, a senator and a member of Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party party, said.
"The government is investigating the incident and as we go along the perpetrators will be put in front of the law and the law will take its course ... the government acknowledged that this was a crime against humanity ... you cannot shoot an unarmed civilian."
Fugu Mohammed's family have given their story to the government commission set up to investigate the events that took place, but they are still waiting to receive an official explanation for the deaths.
Senator Umar Garda could not confirmed whether there had been any arrests relating to the killings and there have been few tangible signs of the inquiry bringing anyone to account.
Aster Van Kregten, a Nigeria expert with rights group Amnesty International, said that the group's research suggested extrajudicial killings were widespread in Nigeria.
"Our research shows that the Nigerian police are getting away with murder, they killed hundreds of people a year without any investigation - any investigation on whether the use of force was lawful or not," she said.
"What we saw on the footage happened seven month ago and we haven't heard anything from the government whether they have arrested anyone and how far the investigation is going."
Boko Haram leader killed
Among those killed in the aftermath of the clashes between Boko Haram and the police, was Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf.
In the footage, he is seen wearing handcuffs and surrounded by heavily armed police officers.
Nigerian police have said that Yusuf was killed while attempting to escape, but he died still wearing the handcuffs.
In another video, which was made available shortly after last year's fighting, Yusuf is shown inside the police station, his body covered with marks and bruises, as he is questioned about the organisation that he led.
It is not known whether the injuries were caused during the fighting, arrest, or detention.
'Extrajudicial killing'
The New York-based Human Rights Watch described Yusuf's death as "an extrajudicial killing".
"The extrajudicial killing of Mr Yusuf in police custody is a shocking example of the brazen contempt by the Nigerian police for the rule of law," Eric Guttschuss, the organisation's Nigeria researcher, said.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is prohibited" in the local Hausa dialect, has called for the nationwide enforcement of a strict interpretation of Islamic law, or sharia, even among non-Muslims.
Last year's clashes took place after suspected Boko Haram members, armed with machetes, knives, bows and arrows, and home-made explosives, attacked police buildings and officers.
Nigeria's 140 million people are nearly evenly divided between Christians, who dominate the south, and the primarily northern-based Muslims.
Islamic law was implemented in 12 northern states after Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 following years of military rule.
-
2010-02-10 05:55:03 |41.222.209.xxx| UMAR ABDULLAHI - What happened in nigeria during the july crisis be
There is no justice in nigeria, and justice will never be done until when we found God fearing leaders in the leadership of this country. How can police killed innocent people in Borno, its inhuman & heartless. But bear it in mind that no evil deeds can go unpunished, any evil done by man to man wiill certainly be redressed, if not by man then certainly by God if not now then certainly later, for the victory of evil over good can only be temporary. Therefore all those responsible should bear it i mind that there will be a day of reckoning i.e the last day when all & sundry will be accountable on their actions.
-
2010-02-10 06:12:48 |41.222.209.xxx| UMAR ABDULLAHI
When ever i see this type of atrocities & massacre happening in my dear country, i use to be ashamed of myself, its un imaginable to watch vedeo where police will be killing innocent & disabled person at a time . Its very unportunate & unjustifiable, its an absolute genocide! most unportunate,in this country it has already happened and am sure nothing will be done; no body will care to remedy the situation. GOD DEY O!
-
2010-02-10 09:35:44 |41.211.241.xxx| Tony D. - Its Unfortunate
If police decide to waste 'innocent lives' as said, it is view from other side that this police are not trained to study situations and criminals, then how would they know who the boko haram is? Some even practice shooting or killing human to tell their girlfriends they have killed boastfully. The handicappeds are sometimes the most dangerous killer of the innocent, cos the look innocent but devilish in thought. In all, no innocence in riots or war, unless you are alive after the saga, then you are innocent.
-
2010-02-10 10:53:52 |41.184.82.xxx| Abdallah - Hot Prayer
May Allah Ta'aala punished those police and army that killing innocent people in our country. May the Hellfire be their last houses.after their.....
-
2010-02-10 17:33:58 |166.137.136.xxx| I.Y. - Unfair justice
Coward killing of the helpless must stop, Nigirian police killing must stop ,it's a crime against huminaty . Some pepole should be held responsible of this barbaric action and inhuman behavior. Punshiment should be equal to the crime. Nigirian government need to act now wisely before the civil ware that will bring this nation to their knees. Where's the law of the land!? .
Who's allowing this lawless officers to take the law into their hand and butcher the innocent and grieve a nation. Shall not kill the helpless innocent poor citizen.
-
2010-02-10 19:31:33 |196.46.245.xxx| Anonymous
i am honestly dissapointed by the commissioner of police Borno state to utter such a heartless word no wonder people say police are alway good at covering each other instead of making analysis of the video you are there making noise.But if you cover them ALLAH will expose you.
ABDUL MINNA
-
2010-02-11 03:47:11 |196.46.246.xxx| dare adeola - extra judicial killings in nigeria
it's a pity that we all are keeping quiet over all the issues that has to do with these kind of killings. How many people have died un-accounted for in our police stations? how many are killed on daily basis and even when the killers are identified are prosecuted? NONE.
frankly, we are living dangerouslyas a people and as a nation. the police , army etc are a reflection of how the govt in this country at all levels see the citizen of this nation.
in the word of richard akinjide, nigeria is a nation and not a country. this will continue to happen until the families of the people in governmet are brutally murdered for them to appreciate this barbaric way that has been embraced in the country.
may God help nigeria!!!
-
2010-02-11 07:06:02 |77.220.15.xxx| El-Bidawy - That is the so called Democracy in Nigeria: what a
Well Allh Ta,ala will judge
-
2010-02-11 07:53:04 |41.222.209.xxx| umar garba
i have read many comments and decission from defferent people and organisation. but what u should think and remember is that, prophet mohammaed salalahu alaiwasalam have not at any time force any person to join the islam religion. and if you are there at maiduguri during this civil disturbances, those people called themselves boko haram slaughter people like rams or cow. which hadiths or verses of quran ordered them to do that. we have to judge thinks according to reallity without taking side.
-
2010-02-11 11:55:41 |198.103.38.xxx| Paul Rogers - Canada's NeoCons
Thanks to Canada's Neocon Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, Canada is still on the downward slope that the US was on under George Bush. Bush, Blair, Howard and Harper all have conspired to push the Western world back into the Dark Ages, of government sanctioned torture and Human Rights abuses. They have done so by whipping the public into a frenzy of fear of the Evil Terrorists, while becoming the world's biggest terrorists themselves.
-
2010-02-12 15:05:23 |41.220.75.xxx| Ahmad - Allah will help
the govt of Nigeria is very wicked in her dealings with her poor citizens
-
2010-02-16 13:48:20 |62.56.145.xxx| abd - hell
whether they are exposed or not, whether they are judged here or not time will come when all, whether you belive or not, must appear before THE MOST HIGH and give account of our DEEDS. I pray for Allah`s mercy on those murdered by these criminals called police, may ALLAH shower his anger and curse upon these police men in these world and hereafter, amen.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
i read the news and watched the video footage. i was sad and enraged. it is very unfortunate to see people dying in that horrible way. killing unarmed men is totally unjustifiable. those who knowingly committed these outrageous crimes should face their fate of death in turn. on one deserves to die that way especially unarmed people. where is justice? where is justice? moments like these makes me aware of myself and the barbariab world we all live in. justice should prevaile where the defenceless are victims.