Boko Haram Attacks Indefensible, Perpetrators Must be Punished – HRW

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday described the series of attacks by militant Islamist group Boko  Haram that resulted in scores of deaths in Borno and Yobe States in Northeast Nigeria over the weekend as “indefensible attack on human life”.

“Boko Haram has once again demonstrated its utter disregard for human life,” said Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

While noting that Boko Haram has carried out many attacks that have resulted in deaths of about 425 people, including personnel of security agencies since the beginning of 2011, the human rights group noted that last weekend’s attack remains the worst by the group in terms of human casualties.

“The attacks on November 4 resulted in the highest death toll in a single day since Boko Haram began its campaign of violence in Nigeria in July 2009”, said HRW.

“The latest attacks, including an apparent suicide car bombing, targeted the police state headquarters in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, as well as police housing, government buildings, banks, and at least six churches.

“Earlier in the day, the group also carried out several attacks in Maiduguri, the capital of neighbouring Borno State, including a suicide car bomb attack on the headquarters of the military task force, and attacks in the town of Potiskum in Yobe State”, it added

The Human rights group therefore call on government to put in place the machinery for bringing the perpetrators to book.

“The authorities should act swiftly to bring to justice those responsible for these terrible crimes and for earlier attacks that left hundreds dead.”

HRW, however, cautioned that in attempting to tackle the menace of the deadly sect, government and the security agencies must avoid using extra judicial measures.

“The Nigerian authorities need to ensure that all law enforcement operations in response to Boko Haram are conducted in full accordance with international human rights standards,” Dufka said.

“The most effective way to counter the abhorrent tactics employed by groups like Boko Haram is to scrupulously adhere to respect for human rights and the rule of law,” he added.