Nigeria is currently dealing with lots of violence between
security forces and Boko Haram’s “campaign of terror.” The security forces are
taking brutal action in response to Boko Haram’s acts of terror which another report
described is making an already desperate situation even worse. Bases on a
report, Nigeria: Trapped in the cycle of violence, documents the terrible acts
carried out by Boko Haram as well as the serious human rights violations
carried out by the security forces in response to his terror campaign. Human
right violations including enforced disappearance, torture, extrajudicial
executions, the torching of homes and detention without trial, etc. “The cycle
of attack and counter-attack has been marked by unlawful violence on both
sides, with devastating consequences for the human rights of those trapped in
the middle,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International. The
General further states: “People are living in a climate of fear and insecurity,
vulnerable to attack from Boko Haram and facing human rights violations at the
hands of the very state security forces which should be protecting them.” Boko
Haram has committed human rights abuses including murder, burning down schools
and churches and attacking media houses and journalists. People are too scared
to report crimes and journalists will not cover them because of the
overwhelming fear of their own safety. In the article, one man explained how
his brother was arrested by security forces. He tried several times to find him
and when he eventually did he saw his dead body at a police station. He
described that the body was badly bruised proving that his brother was tortured
by the security services.
Opinion:
I chose this article because this semester I am learning
more and more just how corrupt “protection” agencies actually are. The people
who are supposed to protect and bring justice to citizens are actually as
terrible as the criminals who commit the crimes. Judicial corruption is a
global problem that results in violation of human rights for innocent citizens.
If people can’t trust then who are we supposed to protect them then who can we
depend on for safety? The people of Nigeria live in fear day to day. They can’t
feel safe because the security forces are performing acts of violence to people
just like Boko Haram’s campaign. The security forces are supposed to protect
their people and give them a sense of SECURITY and not completely violate their
human rights. Children and teachers are scared go to school in fear of being
caught in a fire, reporters and journalist are restrained from freedom of
speech because they are scared of what the security services will do to them.
People are scared to do their job, walk down the street and even say certain
things because there is no one they can depend on them to protect their lives
and human rights. The General made a statement that I agree with: “The
government of Nigeria must take effective action to protect the population
against Boko Harem’s campaign of terror in northern and central Nigeria, but
they must do so within the boundaries of the rule of law. Every injustice
carried out in the name of security only fuels more terrorism, creating a
vicious circle of murder and destruction,” said Salil Shetty. Nigeria is
already in a complicated mess if violence and terror and the only way they can
come out of it is by having agencies that do what they’re supposed to do and
protect the lives and human rights of the Nigerian people. Countries cannot thrive
when corruption exists in the judicial system. People all around the world
deserve security and protection of their human rights.
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