Take proactive steps against extra-judicial killings, FG urged

Human rights organisation, Centre for Victims of Extrajudicial Killings and Torture (CVEKT) Africa, has called on the federal government to take proactive measures to stem extrajudicial killings and torture taking place in various places in Nigeria.

Activist and founder of the centre, Rev Father Anthony Amarube, who gave the advice to  governments at all levels to step up action against extra-judicial killings and torture prevalent in Nigeria today. He lamented that the situation is becoming unbearable as human lives are being wasted almost on daily basis.

Amarube made the call while speaking with journalists in Enugu and said from the situation of things in Nigeria, it appeared that governments seem not to be  serious in the fight against extra-judicial killings.

The Catholic cleric expressed sadness that there are still many cases of extrajudicial killings that were yet to be resolved in the country, hence his call on governments to step up actions.

“From the situation of things in our society today, government seems not to be very serious with the fight against extra-judicial killings. It is not just that people are killed, but the issue of unresolved extrajudicial killings abound.

“These cases are not resolved, look at what happened in Katsina, what has government done to prevent such action? That is why I said government should step up actions to ensure that issues of extrajudicial killings are abated,” he said.

He stated that CVEKT has done a lot in the fight against the menace, adding that the center needed support in the areas of logistics and personnel, pointing out that it lacked the financial muscle to achieve 100 percent of its target.

The CVEKT boss lamented that some cases of extrajudicial killings that took place in Enugu state and some other places in Nigeria in the past have been forgotten, noting that the inability of relevant bodies to prosecute established cases was a major challenge.

He said the centre was handling several cases including intimidation of the civil populace by ex-servicemen, adding that the centre has gone into many awareness campaigns in the past.

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