Post-election violence: Rights group SERAP demands UN probe

On 21 April, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), an active non-governmental organisation based in Lagos, wrote to the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, urging her to “urgently visit Nigeria on a fact-finding mission, to probe the post-election violence and killings that have occurred in many northern states of the country”.

In a petition signed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation expressed concern over the recurring violence and killings, and the associated violation of several human rights. It therefore demanded that “Ms Pillay must speak out and publicly condemn the violence and killings, and ask the Nigerian government and leaders of political parties to show responsibility and ensure full respect for the human rights of the citizens, including the right to life, to human security and property, to participation and development”.

The group also urged the UN to identify state and non-state actors, including leaders of political parties, who are either complicit or directly responsible for the violence and killings, and to send their names to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for prosecution.