28th December, 2024
BOMBING:
SOKOTO BRANCH OF MURIC TASKS AIR FORCE
The Muslim Rights Concern Sokoto State Chapter is seriously
concerned about
the bombing of innocent Nigerian citizens in Sokoto which led
to the killing of at least 10 law abiding citizens, wounding many and destroying
properties worth millions of naira. The bombing was allegedly carried out by a Nigerian
Air Force jet.
While we commend the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force fighting
Lakurawa terrorists and bandits, we condemn in the strongest terms the killing
of innocent citizens.
We demand that those who carried out the bombing be
identified and subjected to legal process. Killing someone even if it is by
mistake is a criminal offence in itself liable to punishment particularly for
military personnels.
This incident is particularly disturbing as it highlights the
ongoing issue of extrajudicial killings of Nigerian citizens through bombing
without identifying and court-martialing the culprits.
By way of emphasis, in the provisions of both civil and
military laws in Nigeria, it is a criminal offence to kill citizens by mistake.
It is alarming that this is not an isolated incident.
It is worthy of mention here that in 2019, Nigerian Air Force
officers unjustly killed two innocent citizens at Mabera Area in Sokoto
Metropolis and the report of the committee which investigated the murder was
neither made public nor communicated to the lawyers of the victims who fully
took part during the sittings of the Committee. (https://punchng.com/naf-investigates-personnel-accused-of-murder-in-sokoto/;
https://tribuneonlineng.com/the-air-force-killings-in-sokoto/).
This lack of transparency and accountability in a democratic society is
unacceptable and it is highly condemnable.
We, therefore, demand a serious, sincere and unbiased
investigation. The public deserves to know the truth and those responsible must
be held accountable for their negligence. An open and transparent investigation
with a clear timeline coupled with a guarantee of report of the outcome would
help restore trust and ensure justice is served.
The people of Nigeria deserve better and it is time for the
government to take concrete actions to protect its citizens' rights and lives.
Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu Esq
Chairman,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
Sokoto Branch.
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