Jos Crisis: Right group seeks ICC’s intervention

By Nnamdi Ojiego

A HUMAN rights organisation, Youth and Conflict Resolution Initiatives, YCRI, has called on the International Criminal Court, ICC, to investigate and prosecute those involved in the recent mass killings of children, women and defenceless men in Jos, Plateau State.

The group described the killings which occurred simultaneously in several communities as an ongoing pogrom, genocide and ethnic cleansing, which the United Nations in its various articles has sworn to prevent through international co-operation wherever and whenever such cruel acts occur.

YCRI  in a statement signed by the head of International Relations, Mr. Efemena Agadama, explained that every local, state, national and international laws on conflict, wars, refugees, innocent and every other treaty governing humans as rational beings have been violated by the murderous elements in Jos.

The statement noted that the killings which have become a regular occurrence since 2001 have claimed no less than 3,000 lives, and regretted that the federal government has been playing politics with the lives of Nigerians, even as it expressed disappointment over the government inability to arrest and bring to book, the sponsors of the killings.

YCRI said: “Everyone keeps asking, will the ICC not act if the Federal Government of Nigeria cannot protect its citizens from murderous elements?  Will the world always be silent when innocent children are being hacked and burnt to death?

“It’s only fair and just for the ICC and every other human rights organisations to intervene and save further loss of lives as the next round of the ongoing pogrom could be more than 1,000 as they have always done based on the scripts of their sacred and untouchable sponsors.

“We are calling on the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute the culprits over the recent mass killings in Jos in a time of peace.

“And we hope the ICC will be able to make clear to the Nigerian government and all parties involve that they have violated laws and conventions on the protection of civilians and refugees including the respected resolution 260 (III) of the UN General Assembly of December 9, 1948.”