Nigeria: Boko Haram - FG Ready to Investigate Human Rights Abuses

Nigeria's top security adviser Sambo Dasuki has indicated federal government may pursue allegations of use of brutal force by security forces in response to Boko Haram's campaign of terror, Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty told newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Shetty who has been meeting with top federal government officials since his arrival in Nigeria said Amnesty International has received "mixed reactions" about its reports documenting violation of human rights by the Joint Task Force, Police and State Security Service.

The report, Nigeria: Trapped in the cycle of violence released yesterday, details how hundreds of people accused of having links to Boko Haram have been arbitrarily detained by security forces, some others who did not pose any threat to life were shot, summary executions outside homes, properties burnt and other abuse of human rights.

The report said investigations have rarely been carried out into allegations of violations by the security forces and in a few cases where investigations took place, the findings have not been made public.

But while addressing newsmen yesterday Shetty said, "The most important and positive reaction came from the office of NSA and very encouragingly they have informed that they would investigate the cases we have identified and come out with a response."

He however said many government officials have also denied the existence of these abuses and "that is a bit more worrying because it is very important that early action is taken."

Shetty said the agency's experience of chronicling acts of terrorism in other countries showed that adopting the use of force to counter violence never worked and Nigeria needed to change its approach.

"Violating human rights in order to improve human condition might work in the short term but would backfire eventually. The only way to counter terrorism is with justice within the human rights framework," he said.

Asked whether Nigeria should accept the offer of the United States and other international agencies to help, Shetty said intervention has to come from the people of Nigeria as the country has the human and financial resources to deal with the problem of terrorism.

He said government officials have reiterated their commitment to international human rights laws but, "this policy commitment needs to be translated to reality."