Probe Bundu waterfront shootings Amnesty Int’l, SERAP urge FG, Rivers

By Innocent Anaba & Wahab Abdulah
LAGOS—Amnesty International and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, yesterday, asked the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State Governor,  Mr Rotimi Amaechi to “urgently set up an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the excessive use of force and firearms by security forces, which  resulted in at least one death, and 12 serious injuries in Bundu Waterfront, Port Harcourt, last year.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, at the  launch the report, Port Harcourt Demolitions: Excessive Use of Force Against Demonstrators, SERAP’s Executive Director,  Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “we consider the events of 0ctober 12, 2009 to constitute violation of the human rights of the victims to protest, demonstrate and take part in political activities. We also consider the excessive use of force to be unlawful, resulting in violation of the right to life.”

The 18-page report is an eye witness account  from the victims of the Bundu shootings as well as from women, who were intimidated and beaten by security personnel.

Lucy Freeman of Amnesty said, “the excessive use of force seen in the Bundu shooting is just one of many examples of the brutality with which the police and army operate throughout Nigeria, yet, few officers are held accountable. In most cases there is no investigation. There must be an end to the impunity enjoyed by Nigeria’s security forces.”

Mumuni further said, “we consider the actions by the agents of the Federal and Rivers State Governments to violate the right to health,  right to adequate housing; right to privacy; right to freedom of movement and freedom to choose residence; and right to property, guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

“Despite clear evidence that the security forces opened fire, shot and injured several people on 12 October, the Rivers State Governor  told Amnesty  that ‘there was no firing, no shooting and no-one was killed or injured on the day.

In fact, nothing happened at all.’ The issue of impunity is one that is all too entrenched in Nigeria. The government cannot keep turning a blind eye to human rights violations by its security forces,” he added.