30 rights groups to African Commission: Investigate Lekki shooting

LEAGUE of over 30 human rights groups in Africa under the aegis of Coalition of Human Rights Organisations in Africa have asked the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to investigate the alleged massacre of protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza.

The group of rights organisations, include: Network of Human Rights Journalists (The Gambia); Nigeria Human Rights Commission; Pos Foundation (Ghana); Campaign for Human Rights and Development (Sierra Leone); and Coalition Togolaise des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (Togo).

Others are: The Human Rights Development and Advocacy Centre; Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (Ivory Coast); Forum des Organisations Nationales des Droits de l’Homme (Mauritania); and Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (Nigeria); Campaign for Democracy (Nigeria); Media Right Concern (Nigeria); Partnership for Justice (Nigeria); Human Rights Defenders in Liberia (Liberia); Coalition Malienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (Mali).

In a statement on yesterday, tagged ‘Dark Tuesday,’ over 30 human rights groups in West Africa asked the Banjul, the Gambia-based African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to investigate and make recommendations on the alleged killings.

The Executive Director, HURIDAC, Ayodele Ameen, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, condemned the shooting of the protesters, saying that the alleged killings were a violation of the Rome Statute, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.