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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Civil society organisations have raised the alarm over the growing cases of enforced disappearances in Nigeria, demanding greater accountability from the Federal Government and security agencies over the whereabouts of missing citizens.
The organisations made the call at a public dialogue on enforced disappearances held at the Centre for Memories, Enugu, to commemorate the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The dialogue, themed “Remembering the missing and demanding truth, accountability and justice,” brought together human rights lawyers, journalists, policy analysts and civil society actors to discuss the plight of victims and their families and explore practical ways of addressing the problem.
Delivering the keynote address, journalist and human rights defender, Steven Kefas, stressed the need for sustained advocacy and action to ensure that families of missing persons get answers.
Speaking at the event, a Board of Trustees member of Herald Foundation, Ogundele Adeniyi, said enforced disappearance was a serious human rights violation that inflicted lasting pain, grief and uncertainty on victims’ families.
He said thousands of families in Nigeria continued to search for their loved ones, with some allegedly held in detention facilities without their families being informed of their location or status.
“Every year on August 30, the world marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, a day dedicated to remembering those who have been taken from their families and communities without explanation, and to demanding truth, justice and accountability.
“The United Nations recognises enforced disappearance as a serious human rights violation that not only affects victims but also inflicts lasting pain and uncertainty on their families and society as a whole.
“In Nigeria, concerns about enforced disappearances remain significant. Thousands of families continue to search for answers about the whereabouts of their loved ones. Many are believed to be held in detention facilities without their families being informed of their location or status. Others have disappeared without a trace,” he said.
Adeniyi cited cases involving vulnerable persons and individuals allegedly targeted because of their beliefs or perceived affiliations, including Leah Sharibu, Onyeka Ozioma Elizabeth and the unresolved disappearance of Dadiyata, who was abducted from his home in Kaduna in August 2019.
He also expressed concern over reports of hundreds of dead bodies allegedly being transported to an unknown location at night in Imo State, saying the development raised serious questions.
“This raises important questions: Who are these individuals? What happened to them? One thing is certain, they are someone’s husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, parents, relatives and friends.
“Developments such as these should concern every Nigerian and reinforce the need for transparency and accountability,” Adeniyi said.
He said the meeting was intended to begin building a coalition that would speak for missing persons and their families.
“We are not gathered merely to hold an event and then disperse. We are here because of a shared humanitarian concern. We are here to begin building a coalition that will take action and speak for the thousands of people whose whereabouts remain unknown, and for the families who live every day with uncertainty, grief and unanswered questions.
“We are here today to remember them, to stand with their families and to demand answers,” he said.
The panel featured A.B. Daramola, Esq., Executive Director of Herald Foundation; Ejike Nwobodo, Esq., legal practitioner; Onyinye Joy Mamah, Executive Director of Heroin Women Foundation; Eunice Enoch Musa, human rights lawyer and media development professional; Methodius Karfe, policy analyst, defence strategist and mental health professional; and Edeh Harrison Ndubuisi, investigative journalist and Managing Editor of Advocate Times News Ltd.
Adeniyi said recommendations from the dialogue would be used to engage government agencies, policymakers and state governments on accountability, justice and reforms aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of citizens.
