Ayodele Olalere
The House of Lords in the United Kingdom has expressed concerns over the violent activities of the Boko Haram terrorists group and Fulani herders in Nigeria.
It has, therefore, called on the Commonwealth to take quick action by investigating the menace.
In a letter to the Secretary General, The Commonwealth, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, the House of Lord’s stated that “escalating violence where attacks led by Boko Haram, Fulani herders, and other Islamic militia, in northern and central belt states, with reports of increasing violent in South East” has become urgent concerns.
“According to the report by the UK All-Party Parliament Group (APPG), for International Freedom of Religion or Belief entitled “Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide” thousands of Nigerians have been killed and elements of Nigerian government may be complicit in violence.”
The letter stated a report by Amnesty International indicted that the, “Nigerian Army forces to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during their operations.”
“The state’s failure to protect it’s citizens is a clear breach of it’s obligations under the Commonwealth Charter in respect of human rights.
“There is now an urgent needs to ensure adequate protection and provision for those suffering the loss of family members and the destruction or their homes and livelihood, and to end impunity by ensuring that complaints related to human rights violation are promptly independently and impartially investigated.”