Security personnel ‘ll be held accountable for unlawful act- CSOs

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in support of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has warned that military and other security personnel who carry out unlawful orders would under international law, be held accountable.


The group was reacting to President Mohammudu Buhari’s order for military and police orders to be ruthless with thugs who try to snatch ballot boxes in their locations.

While briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja , the Executive Director Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and Convener Clement Nwankwo said they are deeply worried about the spike in politically motivated killings in the period leading up to the elections. 


He said various reports from members of the Situation Room across the country; over 260 Nigerians have been killed since the commencement of campaigns from October 2018 to date. 


He said the outlook is further compounded by recent statements by the President, ordering military and Police officers to deal ruthlessly with anybody who snatches ballot boxes or disturbs the voting system. 


“It is noteworthy that Section Under section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, the Nigerian military are specifically excluded from direct involvement in the elections. 
“Regulation 341 of the Police Act (LFN 2004) confers personal liability on any police officer who employs excessive force in the exercise of his powers as a police officer.  


“Similarly, Article 5 of the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials 1979 does not recognise superior order as a defence for the use of excessive force by law enforcement officials.


In a related development, the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation Dr Benson Olugbuo said the security threat posed by these developments will likely cause voter apathy amongst the generality of Nigerian voters who may be worried about their security and safety when they go out to vote. 


 “We use this medium to call on all stakeholders to uphold their duty towards peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections. 


“Nigerian citizens should avoid electoral infractions that will impact negatively on the conduct of the elections,”he said. 


 The foundation called on security actors to refrain from unwarranted use of force and should promptly address any incident that is likely to cause electoral violence before, during and after the elections. 


“For a country working to strengthen the relations between the populace and security actors, the use of unwarranted force may be counter-productive,” he said.

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