NHRC Re-Affirms President Buhari's Commitment To Rout All Ills And Abuses Of Human Rights Violation.

 

Executive Secretary of NHRC Prof Bem Angwe has commended  the member representing Makurdi /Guma Federal Constituency in the House of Reps Hon Dickson Tarkighir  for following  due process and for constituted authority in seeking redress towards an incident that took place in his constituecy between the army and the host community,Prof Angwe stated this when Hon Dickson and his delegation from Benue state visited the commission to formally submit a petition against the soldiers of NASME Barracks in Makurdi.He promised the Hon and his delegation that the Commission will thoroughly investigate the allegations contained in the petition. He further assured that the Government of President Buhari was committed to routing all ills and abuses of human rights violation.

  
Hon Dickson Tarkighir representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State,  made true his promise to his constituents by submitting this  petition against the soldiers of NASME Barracks , Makurdi before the National Human Rights Commission headquarters, Abuja. 

It will be recalled that, on the 14th August; 2015, some soldiers from the NASME Barracks North Bank 2 Makurdi attacked the residents of North bank 2 Makurdi on what they termed a reprisal attack on the community. The attack which led to the destruction of property including cars, motor cycles and houses by the soldiers was said to have been provoked by an altercation between alledged cultists and a soldier man earlier in the day.

Hon Dickson Tarkighir had visited the affected community on the 22nd of August; 2015 to assess the extent of damage as well as offer moral and financial support with the promise to take the matter to the National Human Rights Commission as well as to the National Assembly when the House of Representatives resumes from her recess. The

See below, Hon Dickson's Petition to the National Human Rights Commission.

The Executive Secretary,

National Human Rights Commission

No.19, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 444, Garki-Abuja,

Nigeria.   

                                   1st Sept; 2015

Sir,

PETITION TO DEMAND FOR THE INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION AND COMPENSATION OVER THE ATTACKS ON UNARMED RESIDENTS AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY IN NORTH BANK 2, MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE BY SOLDIERS FROM NASME BARRACKS, NORTH BANK, MAKURDI.

I write as a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State.

I have cause to address your commission on a matter that is of grave concern to me and one that not only caused enormous pain for a part of my constituency but has also shown very clearly, a demonstration of utter disdain by a few misguided soldiers towards the capacity of our democratic institutions to tackle challenges for which essence they exist. This is a worrying tendency that needs to be nipped before it overwhelms our democracy.

On the night of 14th August; 2015, some soldiers from the NASME barracks in North Bank 2 of Makurdi Local Government embarked on what they termed a reprisal attack on the community. This so called reprisal attack was triggered by an altercation earlier in the day between a soldier Private Innocent Okoro and 3 other young men over a lady.

This reprisal attack carried with it the hallmark of a lawless society as soldiers showed their disregard for civil authority in the pursuit of justice and descended on an entire community at dead of night beating up residents and commuters as they also set over two hundred cars ablaze while shattering the glasses to more than 100 houses and about a hundred and fifty other cars they did not have the time to set ablaze. This sordid act lasted up to the early hours of 15th August; 2015 and left in its aftermath, charred remains of burnt cars, hundreds of injured residents in hospitals, shattered windscreens of cars, punctured tyres of vehicles, broken windows and doors to residential apartments and a community in tears wondering what wrong they had done.

Since this sad incident, the Benue State Governor has visited the attacked community twice, providing succour and suing for peace. To his credit, the Commandant of the NASME Barracks has offered apologies to the community.

However, for true healing to occur; for justice to be seen as served and a repeat of such reprisals averted, I write you Sir, after having personally visited the attacked community and taken stock of the amount of damage visited on her, to please, cause for a full investigation into the remote and immediate causes to the violation of human rights as it were, by soldiers and to ensure the prosecution of all culprits as well as compensation to victims of this dastardly act.

It is my utmost belief as well as the hope of my constituents that we shall find reprieve in your response as you once again, ensure that your commission lives up to the essence for which it was set up: "the promotion and protection of human rights".

Please, be assured of my highest regards as you pilot the affairs of an agency very often the last hope of the weak and the violated.

Yours Faithfully,

Hon Dickson Tarkighir

Makurdi/Guma, Federal Constituency

Benue State