EMERGENCY RULE: STOP VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS

3rd June, 2013 PRESS RELEASE: EMERGENCY RULE: STOP VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS   The Nigerian military has once again been accused of killing civilians in the ongoing military operations against the notorious Boko Haram militants in the North East of the country. This was contained in a video clip recently shown on Al-Jazeerah.         Although the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has denied this allegation and insisted that the military operation is designed to protect civilians from the atrocities of Boko Haram, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is constrained to ask the FG to caution its troops. We insist on strict compliance with the rules of engagement. The Nigerian military has a duty not only to manifest professionalism but to practice it in its campaign against insurgents.   In particular, we demand the involvement of international observers. The military must operate in a transparent environment to convince all and sundry that Allah-given and fundamental rights are not being compromised under the cover of emergency rule.   MURIC questions the rationale behind the communication lockdown clamped on the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe with the attendant economic losses as well as emotional and psychological trauma visited upon civilians who have been rendered incommunicado since emergency rule began in those three states.   There are students, businessmen and other civilians in the zone who have not been able to communicate with their families and business associates since the lockdown began. Parents whose children and wards are in tertiary institutions are greatly worried about the safety and welfare of their loved ones. The same applies to civil servants who work within the emergency zone but whose families are elsewhere in the country.   MURIC affirms that the communication lockdown is unnecessary, wicked and inhuman. It constitutes an open rape on democracy. What is the military afraid of? Why should innocent civilians be denied access to their mobile phones and their loved ones for so long? We strongly suspect that this is a crude cover for the violation of the fundamental human rights of the civilian population in such a way that no reports of such crimes against humanity would ever emerge from the zone.   We charge the international community to act quickly before the West African sub-region is enveloped in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The United Nations should quickly send its observers to the zone. We also urge the military to put its cards on the table by allowing journalists, aid workers, local and international observers into the emergency zone without let or hindrance.   Professor Is-haq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 234-803-346-4974 Professor Is-haq Akintola,  Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974        234-818-211-9714 Website: www.ishaqakintola.com Blog: drishaqakintola.blogspot.com Twitter:  ishaqakintola Facebook: facebook.com/ishaqakintola Twitter: ishaqakintola   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered