Both the Human Rights Watch and the President of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Shehu Sani, have accused the Joint Task Force (JTF) of gross human rights violations, mass murder and extrajudicial killings in its drive to curb terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect in the northern parts of the country.
Two separate statements signed by Sani and the Africa director at Human Rights Watch, Daniel Bekele, described the JTF's current approach as outside the law and constitutional principles, and therefore unacceptable and self-defeating.
According to them, the application of excessive force and widespread abuses, including extrajudicial killings by Nigeria's security forces constitute crimes against humanity and contravene international human rights law.
In the 98-page report of the human right group entitled, "Spiralling Violence: Boko Haram Attacks and Security Force Abuses in Nigeria,' the rights group stated that the unlawful killings by both Boko Haram militants and Nigerian security forces had only grown worse; and that both sides needed to halt this downward spiral.
The groups noted that the violence, which first erupted in 2009, had claimed more than 2,800 lives, and called on government to swiftly bring to justice the Boko Haram members and security agents who had committed serious crimes.
According to Sani, "the reprehensible acts of killings and vandalism by the insurgents cannot be addressed and contained by the arbitrariness and brigandage of the security agencies.
"We recognise and appreciate the delicate assignment of confronting and fighting insurgency, but it must not be done at the expense of rights and life of innocent Nigerians. The recklessness of the JTF is becoming as sordid as the soulessness of the insurgency," he said.
He urged the federal government to probe the reported cases of extrajudicial killings and arson by the JTF.
Well i dont support extra judicial killings but i do know that during attempt to tackle the blood thirsty sect, innocent people sometimes get caught in the crossfire.
no matter how plenty the bloodshed might be, i support it all the way
there is nothing extra_judicial about the killings.Nigerians are in full support
All in all the JTF should discharge their duties with professionalism.