NIGERIA: Obasanjo admits extrajudicial killings by police, pledges action [View All]

[struggle4progress]

19 Aug 2005 16:56:16 GMT

Source: IRIN

ABUJA, 19 August (IRIN) - Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has confirmed widespread extrajudicial killings of suspects and innocent citizens by the country's police and promised tough action to clean-up the force.

Obasanjo's speech in Abuja on Thursday, ia a rare acknowledgement of gross human rights violations by security forces, confirming recent findings by the United Nations Human Rights Commission and rights groups.

"These violations ranged from extra-judicial killings to torture and unlawful detention," Obasanjo said at the opening of a forum on human rights called by the police. <snip>

But Obasanjo promised action in future, specifically in resolving a recent case in which policemen allegedly executed six people in Abuja and framed them as armed robbers. <snip>

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