Apo Killings: Aturu Commends Human Rights Commission’s Indictement Of SSS, Army

Human rights lawyer,
Mr. Bamidele Aturu, has hailed the National Human Rights
Commission for its report on public hearing which indicted
the Nigerian Army and the State Security Service in the
killing of eight innocent Nigerians in Apo District, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Aturu said that the
ability of a government institution like the NHRC to criticise
and indict other government agencies such as the army
and the SSS was commendable.
The commission said that the security agencies’ joint
operation in an uncompleted building in the Apo district of
Abuja on September 20, 2013, did not respect the victims’
right to live as they were killed extra-judicially, contrary to
the claim by the army and SSS that they were shot and
killed in self-defence.
He said, “I salute the courage of all the members of the
Governing Council of the Commission, its Executive
Secretary and other staff for giving us something to cheer
under this administration.
“Honestly, one is pleased that we can see a government
agency speak truth to government. We can only hope that
they will move their searchlight into other dark alleys of
government human rights practice in Nigeria”.
The NHRC had indicted the government agencies and also
awarded N135m in favour of the families of the deceased
and the survivors.
Aturu said the decision of the NHRC was bold, well-
reasoned and fair, adding that what the commission did
used to be unthinkable.
“The commission has shown by its bold, well-reasoned and
fair decision that what we need in Nigeria is a combination
of independent institutions and independent but patriotic
and competent persons to run the institutions”, he stated.
The Lagos lawyer also warned government against taking
any action against the commission or members of its
governing council because of the report.
“One is also cautiously enthused that Nigerian political
authorities did not dismiss the decision as the handiwork
of the opposition. If the silence from them is as a result of
a sober realization that security agencies went overboard
in the irresponsible way they falsely labelled the deceased
as Boko Haram and wickedly cut off their lives, then we
can only encourage them to continue in that path of
honour.
“However, if they were just too dazed that a government
agency had the liver to criticize and embarrass them and
are then waiting for the right time to strike, then it would
mean they do not know the immeasurable good that the
decision of the Commission has done for the government.
Serious governments need responsible Commissions to
whip overzealous security agents into line from time to
time”.