HURIWA Commends Military, Recommends N100m Compensation for Dead Officials During Elections

The Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria, HURIWA,  has commended the hierarchy of the Nigerian Armed Forces for complying with global best practices by not succumbing to the temptations of the political times to shoot-on-sight suspected ballot box snatchers as was widely expected to happen following the opinion expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said this at Abuja on Monday, 25 February, during a press conference.

“We have reliably gathered evidence from all across the country that there was a commendable levels of compliance to the international principles obliging the military to adhere to the rules of engagement.

Recall that before the Presidential polls, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, had urged Nigerians to support the Nigerian Army in its internal security operations during the polls” he said

HURIWA noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has not expressly issued a directive for shoot-at-sight of suspected ballot box snatchers just as it disclosed that Military High Command informed it that on no occasion will any citizen be killed through extrajudicial means.

It said, “We have been informed from a dependable source embedded in the office of Mr. President that no such wide ranging presidential order whether in writing or orally has gone out from the President to the service Chiefs.”

HURIWA, however, cautioned that citizens must obey the law by conducting themselves lawfully since even section 33(1) which prohibits extralegal executions makes a provision for use of firearm should riotous situation arise, although the use of lethal weapon need not result in death.

It said, “Citizens must know that if ballot box snatching leads to breakdown of law and order, the security forces are permitted by the Constitution to resort to use of lethal weapons which in any case may inflict fatality as a consequence.”

HURIWA condemned the killings of both civilian, police and Army and asked that the due process of the law be activated so as to bring all the culprits to justice.

On the election proper, HURIWA also noted  it was shameful and despicable that 48 hours after the polls, INEC could not  release the results even when the results were known to the parties from the polling units, local governments and state levels.

“We call for the prosecution of the bandits in Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa, who disrupted the polls and physically manhandled the Deputy Police Commissioner.

“The reported arrest of the PDP chieftain Alhaji Buba Galadima by DSS is hereby condemned and we demand for his immediate release”.

HURIWA encourages Nigerian Army to use the due process of law to resolve the killing of Lieutenant Luka Ishaya Kurmi, who encountered hoodlums during election duty in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area (LGA) Rivers State on Saturday was killed.

“Preliminary investigation indicated that one Roland Sekibo, the Chairman Akuku Toru LGA, Omodo – the CSO Akuku Toru LGA and Kenneth of Kula currently at large were the master minds of the unexpected/unprovoked attack” Comrade Onwubiko said

HURIWA recalled that INEC’s adhoc staff, Mrs. Ibisiki Amachree, was killed by stray bullet in Rivers.

Mrs. Ibisika Amachree who served as an INEC adhoc staff during the elections in Rivers State, was killed by a stray bullet while returning home after the elections in Degema, she died before she could receive medical attention.

The National Coordinator of HURIWA concluded, “This incident must be professionally investigated and anyone implicated must be made to face the wrath of the law. We ask the Nigerian government and INEC to pay N100 million compensation each to all the electorate and officials killed during the election because INEC is vicariously liable.”