Nigeria: Hold Military to Account
Bush Meeting with Obasanjo Should Address Killings 

(New York, November 1, 2001) -- In advance of Nigerian President 
Olusegun Obasanjo's meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, Human 
Rights Watch urged Bush to raise concerns about the recent massacre by   
              soldiers in Benue State, Central Nigeria. President 
Obasanjo is due to meet separately with President Bush and Secretary of 
State Colin Powell on Friday, November 2 to discuss anti-terrorism 
measures.

“The anti-terrorism agenda must not prevent President Bush from          
                                    condemning human rights violations 
by the Nigerian security forces,” said Peter Takirambudde, executive 
director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa division. “Failure to raise 
these concerns just days after the                                    
       Nigerian army killed unarmed civilians and destroyed homes and 
property would send a dangerous signal about U.S. commitment to human 
rights in Nigeria.” 

Human Rights Watch issued a statement on October 25 condemning the 
actions of the Nigerian military in Benue State. The soldiers were 
apparently acting in revenge for the earlier killing of 19 soldiers 
attributed to an armed group. Initial figures indicated that at least 
100 people had been killed in the military reprisal that began on 
October 22, but on the basis of information received since then, Human 
Rights Watch believes that the real civilian toll is likely to be 
significantly higher. The situation in the area remains critical, with 
tens of thousands of people displaced by the violence. 

President Obasanjo has thus far failed to condemn the army's actions. 
“We deplore the absence of any recognition on the part of the government 
of the gravity of what happened in Benue,” said Takirambudde. “If the 
U.S. Government considers Nigeria to be a close ally, it has a 
responsibility to condemn these atrocities and urge President Obasanjo 
to investigate the events and bring those responsible to justice.” 

For more information on Nigeria, please see:

Nigeria: Soldiers Massacre Civilians in Revenge Attack in Benue State 
(HRW Press Release, October 25, 2001) at 
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/10/nigeria1025.htm

Nigeria: Key Human Rights Watch Documents at 
http://www.hrw.org/africa/index.php

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