Human rights violations have long been a global concern in Nigeria, prompting international organizations to investigate and report on alleged abuses. The Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja recently delivered a verdict that gives prominence to the need for accountability and adherence to the rule of law. On November 29, 2024, the Federal High Court discharged and acquitted 50 Biafrans, including men and women, who had been illegally detained since December 1, 2023. This judgment reflects a growing judicial commitment to upholding justice and human rights.
Human rights lawyer Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor and his team worked tirelessly to ensure the release of these innocent citizens, exemplifying the critical role of legal advocates in promoting justice in Nigeria.
The victims were arrested by Nigerian security agents in Anambra State while en route to a burial ceremony. Similarly, on December 19, 2024, the Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia acquitted five Biafrans who had been unlawfully detained since July 2022. These rulings highlight systemic flaws in Nigeria's law enforcement and judicial processes, raising critical questions about the treatment of citizens under the guise of national security.
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a leading human rights organization, recently unveiled two comprehensive reports: “Ocean of Innocent Blood Flowing in the East” and “Human Rights Made in Nigeria.” These reports, launched during a media conference in Enugu, are the result of years of meticulous research and documentation.
The 282-page “Ocean of Innocent Blood Flowing in the East” chronicles systemic massacres by Nigeria's security forces, documenting the deaths of over 32,300 civilians between August 2015 and December 2024. The report details extrajudicial executions, unlawful detentions, torture, and the secret transfer of detainees to northern states, exposing a harrowing pattern of state-sponsored violence.
The second report, “Human Rights Made in Nigeria,” provides a legal framework for addressing human rights violations. It compiles local, regional, and international legal provisions regulating the conduct of armed state and non-state actors, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice.
These reports directly accuse the Nigerian military, police crack squads, Department of State Services (DSS), state-affiliated vigilantes, and government task forces of orchestrating systemic atrocities.
According to Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman of Intersociety’s Board, these publications are the result of years of research and investigation, with the final compilation beginning in May 2024 and culminating in December 2024.
This 282-page report chronicles the alleged massacres carried out under the guise of combating terrorism linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN). It documents the following harrowing statistics:
Over 22,500 unarmed civilians were secretly massacred.
An additional 9,800 civilians were openly executed, bringing the total to more than 32,300 deaths between August 2015 and December 2024.
Tens of thousands were unlawfully detained and tortured, with over 6,000 individuals blindfolded, face-bagged, and transported under the cover of night to secret detention facilities in seven northern states, including Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).
Many detainees were subjected to kangaroo trials or left to die in military locations like Wawa Cantonment in Niger State.
This report provides a comprehensive legal framework, consolidating local, regional, and international human rights provisions. It emphasizes the responsibilities of armed state and non-state actors under universal human rights and humanitarian law. The document serves as a reference point for ensuring accountability and justice in Nigeria.
Intersociety offered 76 actionable recommendations to address the systemic issues identified. Key proposals include:
1. Comprehensive Investigations:
Investigate cases of extrajudicial killings, unlawful executions, torture, and the disappearance of victims’ bodies in Eastern Nigeria over the past nine years.
2. Abolishing Extortion Practices:
End all forms of extortion, including roadblock fees, custodial bribes, and monetized criminal investigations.
3. Dismantling Checkpoints:
Remove military and police roadblocks in the South-East and South-South regions and replace them with CCTV cameras monitored by ICT-trained police detectives.
4. Ending Commercialization:
Prohibit the monetization of arrests, detentions, bail processes, and custodial investigations.
5. Promoting Transparency:
Ensure accountability and adherence to human rights standards across security forces.
The reports, which are being distributed free of charge, provide a grim reminder of the need for systemic reform in Nigeria’s security and justice sectors. According to Umeagbalasi, these findings demand urgent attention from the Nigerian government, the armed forces, and international stakeholders.
By documenting these abuses and offering actionable recommendations, Intersociety has set the stage for a renewed focus on human rights, accountability, and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Written by Daniel
Okonkwo for Profile International human
rights advocate. Member of Amnesty International. A campaigner of Write for Rights. Promoting justice, development, and nation-building.
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