LAGOS—The Human Rights Monitor, HRM, yesterday raised alarm over alleged illegal activities of members of the civilian Joint Task Force, JTF, who it alleged now kill and maim people suspected to be members or financiers of Boko Haram Islamic sect in Borno and Yobe states, describing the action as an aberration. This was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of HRM, Mr Festus Okoye in Kaduna. The Civilian JTF was reported to have set the house of the Chairman of the ruling All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, in Borno State, Alhaji Othman ablaze last week, following suspicion that he was allegedly close to members of Boko Haram. Apart from torching the house, they were said to had arrested other suspected members of the sect and handed them over to the military JTF which was providing security in the North East. However, in a statement entitled, “civilian JTF is an aberration,” Okoye said: “The Joint Task Force, JTF, providing security in the North East and North West geopolitical zones of Nigeria has apparently handed over part of its responsibilities to those they now refer to as civilian JTF. These civilian JTF are a band of youth who have formed themselves into a vigilante group ostensibly to root out insurgents in their communities and cities. “The sad fact is that the JTF does not know the background of some of these youths. The JTF does not know the communities where some of them reside and their political and religious affiliation. The JTF has no data of their previous and current activities. “Arming and encouraging youths from diverse backgrounds to take up arms in an unregulated manner to block roads, make arrests, beat up suspects, kill those “found guilty” and burn their houses and chase them out of town is dangerous to the rule of law and the current efforts aimed at tackling security challenges in Nigeria. “Ordinarily, the Nigerian Police Force is constitutionally and legally empowered to maintain law and order and protect lives and property of the people. The military are only called in to assist civil authorities when overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenges. While it is important for civilians to assist security agencies with useful information that may lead to the arrest of those who break the law and threaten the security of the citizens, it is equally dangerous to arm them and allow them to take over the streets in a manner that breeds fear and anxiety on the citizens. “The truth of the matter is that this version of Civilian JTF roaming round the street of Borno and Yobe states are not people previously known to security agencies as law abiding citizens. The fear is that some of these gangs roaming the streets as civilian JTF may bond together and become a formidable force for purposes that may be inimical to the security and welfare of the citizens.”
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 14:19:19 +0000