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from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – A HUMAN rights group has called on the Europe Union (EU) and the United States US) to slap sanctions on Nigeria for the existence of so-called death camps run by police in the West African country.
The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) alleged law enforcers had detained, tortured and extra-legally executed suspects at these facilities.
A 26-year-old man, named as Abdulkadir Nasiru, is reportedly the latest victim of alleged police brutality.
Police in the northern Kano allegedly beat him to death following his arrest over gang violence.
HURIWA said this was the latest in a series of violations by state security.
“HURIWA is hereby urging the European Union and the United States government to impose sanctions on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari,” it stated.
“…(the government) has become autocratic and has serially disrespected binding decisions of the competent courts of law which is provided for in Section 6 of the Constitution.”
The organisation said the alleged killing of Nasiru highlighted the lack of reespect for the sanctity of human life, which was covered under the Nigerian constitution and statutes.
The Constitution states that every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of their life, save in execution of the sentence of a court.
Critics of Buhari accuse him of resorting to dictatorship since his election in 2015.
He was a dictator in the early 1980s after he masterminded a military coup.
– CAJ News