Amnesty International is deeply concerned that almost every year, the Nigerian military is using lethal force on peaceful Quds day protests of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) as soldiers killed at least five protesters in Abuja and dozens left severely injured — some with life-threatening injuries. Those injured were denied medical treatment.
While on the same day Quds day protest was held in Kano, Yola, Bauchi, Zaria, Jos and other towns and cities across Nigeria, it was only in Abuja that it turned violent.
Soldiers unlawfully killed 350 IMN members between 12 and 14 December 2015 in Zaria and attempted to cover up the crime.
Soldiers unlawfully killed 350 IMN members between 12 and 14 December 2015 in Zaria and attempted to cover up the crime.
In October 2018, an investigation by Amnesty International shows that the horrific use of excessive force by soldiers and police led to the killing of at least 45 supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) over two days around Abuja.
Our research established that Nigerian military are deliberately using tactics designed to kill whenever they are dealing with IMN gatherings. Clearly the extrajudicial executions of IMN members is gradually normalized as an annual routine of bloodshed by Nigeria’s security forces.
Over five years, Amnesty International had been documenting video footages and eyewitness testimonies consistently showing that the Nigerian military dispersed peaceful gatherings of IMN by firing live ammunition without warning.
Every year, Amnesty International gather evidence of shocking and unconscionable use of deadly force by soldiers and police against IMN members.
International law is clear that security forces policing demonstrations must not use firearms against protesters. They must never use firearms to disperse a demonstration, even if it turns violent. Firearms must never be used as a tactical tool for the management of demonstrations: they may only be used for the purpose of saving another life
This violent crackdown on IMN protesters is unjustified and unacceptable. They were perfectly within their rights to hold a religious procession and protest and there was no evidence they posed an imminent threat to life.
The continuous failure to investigate these gross human rights violations is fueling a dangerous disdain for the sanctity of human life in Nigeria.