Following a petition by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, a Nigerian non- governmental organisation, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, has said she had asked the Federal Government to ensure full justice to victims by bringing to account those responsible for the persistent violence in Jos, and the associated human rights violations.

Meanwhile, about 5000 Internally Displaced Persons from the crisis in Plateau State have been absorbed into Bauchi State,  following the launch of a resettlement programme by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in conjunction with Bauchi State government, weekend.

Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said majority of them were victims of the crises that erupted in Jos, Plateau State, between January and March 2010, where over 10,000 of the displaced persons crossed over to the neighbouring Bauchi State.

SERAP had in the petition to the UN, complained that “the international community cannot be silent when innocent civilians are caught up in violence, such as the one going on in Jos. The international community must strive to deliver justice to victims of human rights’ violations wherever they occur and ensure that those found guilty of such crimes are held accountable for their actions.”

The UN High Commissioner, in a letter on her behalf  by Mr Anders Kompass, Director of Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division and in reply to SERAP’s petition, said: “The High Commissioner has written to the Nigerian authorities, urging them to make every effort to achieve security with full adherence to legality and respect for human rights. She has also expressed concern about reports of religious violence in Jos, which has resulted in death, injury and displacement.”