Force in the Northeast to disarm the volunteers assisting the
military to arrest fleeing Boko Haram members.
The volunteers, who are called "civilian JTF", have been
combing Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The rights group, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr
Festus Okoye, warned security agencies against abdicating their
responsibility to a band of youth.
The statement said: "The Joint Task Force providing security in
the North east and Northwest geopolitical Zones of Nigeria
have apparently handed over part of their responsibilities to
those they now refer to as "civilian JTF".
"The sad fact is that the Joint Task Force does not know the
background of some of these youths. The JTF does not know
the communities where some of them reside and their
political and religious affiliation. The Joint Task Force has no
data of their previous and current activities.
"Arming and encouraging youths from diverse backgrounds to
take up arms and weapons in an unregulated manner to block
roads, make arrests, beat up suspects, kill those "found guilty"
and burn their houses and chase them out of town is
dangerous to the rule of law and the current efforts aimed at
tackling security challenges in Nigeria.
"Ordinarily, the Nigerian Police Force is constitutionally and
legally empowered to maintain law and order and protect lives
and properties of the people. The military are only called in to
assist civil authorities when civilian authorities are
overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenges. "
The group expressed fears that some of these gangs may bond
together and threaten security and welfare of the citizens.
The statement added: "While it is important for civilians to
assist security agencies with useful information that may lead
to the arrest of those who break the law and threaten the
security of the citizens, it is equally dangerous to arm them
and allow them to take over the streets in a manner that
breeds fear and anxiety on the citizens.
"The truth of the matter is that this version of civilian JTF
roaming round the street of Borno and Yobe States are not
people previously known to security agencies as law abiding
citizens.
"The fear is that some of these gangs roaming the streets as
civilian JTF may bond together and become a formidable force
for purposes that may be inimical to the security and welfare
of the citizens. The experience of the Niger Delta militants and
the present insurgents that have become difficult to uproot is
enough precedent for the Nigerian people to learn from.
"We are of the opinion that the Commander of the Joint Task
Force must disarm this civilian JTF as their continued operation
under official cover gives the impression that the security
agencies have abandoned their responsibilities to an
unregulated army of untrained persons with no visible means
of livelihood and no permanent abode.
"The civilian JTF is not trained in the art of handling weapons
and law enforcement and have no idea of rules of engagement
in the fight against insurgents and should not be allowed and
or used to violate the fundamental rights of the people.
"Arming the so-called civilian JTF in an unregulated manner
may assist them bond together and they may later become a
problem and a challenge to the society since they are armed
and dangerous.
"Civilians should be encouraged to be vigilant and supply
honest information to the security agencies but should not be
allowed to carry arms and terrorise persons.
"The security agencies must continue their efforts at protecting
the lives and the properties of law abiding citizens in a manner
consistent with Nigeria's regional and international human
rights obligations."
Source : the nation
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