Falana to IGP: Provide information on extra-judicial killings within seven days

Lawyer-turned rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has asked the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to provide the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the reports of investigation into the large scale killings of 9,457 persons from 2011 to date within seven days.
Falana said in a letter dated February 11, 2018 that the request was made under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 and aimed at ending official impunity and facilitate the trial of suspects involved in the illegal killings.
The lawyer said he would proceed to the court to institute mandamus proceedings against the IGP if he fails to furnish him with such information as requested.
“As this request is made under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, you are required to accede to our request within seven days of the receipt of this letter. However, if you fail or refuse to accede to this request, we shall proceed to institute mandamus proceedings, compelling you to furnish us with the needed information,” he stated.

Falana noted that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has commenced the prosecution of the terror suspects who were arrested from 2011-2017 by the security forces based on pressures from the human rights community.
He, however, regretted that while this was ongoing, other armed gangs that had engaged in the mindless killing of thousands of Nigerians including children have not been prosecuted by the respective state governments.
According to him, this explained why the cold murder of unarmed citizens has continued unabated.
Falana listed extra-judicial killings that had taken place in the country to include: “ the abduction and killing of 60 security officers in 2013 by a cult group in Nasarawa State; killing of over 2, 000 people in Benue State by herdsmen, militia groups and other armed gangs; killing of 800 people in Mambilia, Taraba State by a militia group in September 2017; killing of 204 people by gunmen in Southern Kaduna in 2016; killing of 347 people by the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State in December 2015 and killing of 150 pro-Biafra agitators by security forces in the South East region from 2013-2017.”