Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked the Nigerian government to pay US$65,000 in damages to the family of the slain founder of extremist Islamist group, Boko Haram.
HRW, a United States human rights lobby group said the government must also exhume Baba Fugu Mohammed’s body for proper burial and apologise for his killing.
In a detailed report released on Wednesday, HRW reminded the Nigerian government that the Borno State High Court in April 2010 found that Mohammed’s killing was “illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of his right to life.”
“The killing of Baba Fugu Mohammed was illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of his right to life, and (the court) had ordered federal and state authorities to pay N100 million ($65,000) in damages to his family, exhume his body for proper burial, and apologise for their reprehensive and unconstitutional acts,” reads the HRW report in part.
HRW also asked the government to bring members of the Boko Haram sect in the northern parts of the country to justice, as well as compensate the families of victims whose rights were being violated.
After HRW’s arecommendations, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urged members of Boko Haram and other religious groups in northern Nigeria to be more tolerant.
“Over the long history of nations and long lives of individuals, wars and ethno-religious violence have never brought about peaceful coexistence.
“Only constructive dialogue brings about genuine reconciliation that goes with genuine forgiveness,” ACF spokesperson, Anthony Sani told reporters.
“To resort to endless killings of innocent people in the name of revenge of perceived injustice of the past ignores God’s injunction that we forgive each other as He forgives our transgressions.”
“It is, therefore, still the position of ACF that the sect should embrace dialogue by shelving any further infliction of violence.”
“This would address any perceived injustice and bring about peace for national interest and common good,” Sani added.
The terror attacks by Boko Haram have also been condemned by the African Union, which urged Nigeria “to spare no efforts to bring those responsible for this horrific attack to justice.”