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"Boko Haram": Repeating The Mistake Of Saddam Hussein By Ibrahim M. Attahir
Many people that watched the Aljazeera Satellite Channel on Tuesday 9th February, 2010 shed tears for seeing the crude and barbaric way and manner the security agencies carried out the extra-judicial killings of civilians alleged to be members of "Boko Haram". However, those that gave the orders and those that executed the orders appeared to be very comfortable with the atrocities that they committed. The impunity with which they acted was such that the extra-judicial killings were well captured by cameras amidst spectators. That is the drunkenness of those in power. They know that all it takes is to tell us over NTA that the victims were gunned down while they were trying to escape or in exchange of fire. That was exactly what we were told that Malam Muhammad Yusuf was killed in exchange of fire or while trying to escape. Fortunately or unfortunately, ICT did not betray us. Overwhelming evidence came out that he was captured alive and the footage of his dead body showed him in handcuff. I wonder how a handcuffed person can exchange fire with anybody. They forgot to remove the handcuff.
Due to the weighty evidence of the extra-judicial killings, the government promised to investigate the killings. However, the public is still in the dark on the outcome of the investigation. If what we heard on media is anything to go by, the investigation is on why excessive force was used to suppress the armed insurrection. In my understanding, using force or excessive force in suppression of an insurrection as envisaged under section 33 (2) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 applies during combat not after the capture of disarmed or unarmed civilians. One should not have expected anything better when the same security agencies that were accused were allowed to be judges in their own case. If it were in civilized countries, the issue deserves an independent investigation. If not for the Aljazeera footages shown on 9th through 10th February, 2010 the extra-judicial killings would have been swept under the carpet. Even human right groups seem to have forgotten the issue. However, I heard a senator telling Aljazeera that the killings are being investigated and those behind them will face justice. Why is it that since July 2009 we have not heard anything until when Aljazeera revisited the issue? We should know who and who are being investigated, where and when and for what offences. I wonder if a senator is the proper person to inform us on what is happening when the office of the Attorney General and the police are there.
I don't know why a government that prides itself as following rule of law will allow its agents to kill unarmed suspects already captured some of them with apparent disability (walking with crutches) and turn round to say they are armed insurgents. Why are the authorities afraid of due process of law? I believe that Abacha regime, regarded by some as the worst military dictatorship, could not have acted in that manner. That is the worst thing that could happen even in a jungle where there is no government. The attitude of the authorities makes one to assume that they do not have any evidence against the suspects that can secure conviction if they were to be tried in a court of law. What people in authority forget is that following due process of law is in their own interest. If we allow extra-judicial to prevail it will be used against anybody any time.
It is unfortunate that people in power do not learn any lesson from the mistakes of others. It is such refusal to follow due process of law that is easily used to nail dictators when they leave power. Take, for example, the case of Saddam Hussein. When his convoy was allegedly attacked in an attempt to assassinate him in Dujail in 1982 he could have safely caused his attackers to be tried. No government could have just looked the other way. However, his mistake was that instead of following the due process of law villagers numbering 148 were rounded up randomly and executed summarily. That time nothing happened. But when Saddam was toppled and subsequently captured the Dujail incident was found as one of the easiest ways to nail him and his lieutenants. Such cases of extra-judicial killings are easy to establish because those involved in them get carried away by the euphoria of power and try to justify them. Therefore, it is easy to lay hands on evidence including documentary evidence.
Therefore, now that that the issue has been revisited we will see how the Nigerian authorities, the human rights community and the international community will act. It is in the interest of the powers that be to investigate the issue now and bring the perpetrators to book. If, however, they sweep it under the carpet, the day another regime decides to revisit the issue only God knows those that will be involved. It is most unfortunate that even religious "scholars" justified or even instigated such atrocities. Some of the "scholars" used the opportunity to settle scores with the "Boko Haram". It is unwise to support injustice against somebody simply because you do not share the same opinion with him or he is your rival. Whatever is the gravity of the offence alleged against any person he should be given opportunity to defend himself in a trial.
It is gratifying that the House of Representatives has adopted a resolution calling for investigation of the issue. However, nothing short of independent investigation can dig out those responsible for the extra-judicial killings. Government people have a way of covering up things in Nigeria, especially if highly and influential personalities are involved. I heard an interview granted to Hausa Service of Voice of Germany by the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame on 11th February, 2010 where he said that the security agents that were shown on Aljazeera killing people summarily were on their own. If truly the issue will be investigated, or it is being investigated why should he tactfully exonerate some persons and implicate others? It sounds like a deliberate attempt to use only the poor police officers that carried out the heinous crime as scapegoat for the offence of some sacred cows. It is doubtful if the police officers were on their own given the impunity with which they carried out the act in broad daylight with people watching and recording the episode with video camera. They seem to be rest assured that nothing will happen. We need credible investigation to know what exactly happened.
However, if the powers that be chose to sweep the issue under the carpet, we know that they can only do it for some time. The day of reckoning will come sooner or later. Most of the dictators that abused human rights in many parts of the world such as Romania, Chile, Yugoslavia/Serbia, Iraq, etc later met their Waterloo. I hope they are not repeating the mistake of Saddam Hussein. Ibrahim M. Attahir Pantami Quarters, Gombe. |