HURIWA raises alarm over alleged extrajudicial killings

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has raised fresh concerns over what it describes as a “dangerous and escalating pattern” of extrajudicial killings by Nigerian security forces.

It warned that the trend now amounts to a national emergency requiring urgent intervention.

In a statement issued Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA. the group also warned that Nigeria is increasingly becoming a place where institutions tasked with protecting lives are allegedly implicated in their violation, a situation it said reflects erosion of human rights.

HURIWA cited the recent killing of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja, as a troubling example of the crisis.

The organisation said eyewitness accounts and testimonies from the victim’s family suggest he was shot inside his residence in Dei-Dei, casting doubt on official claims that he was caught in crossfire during an anti-robbery operation.

It argued that such explanations have become routine, often issued without thorough, transparent investigations or accountability for those responsible.

The group also drew attention to a separate incident in Delta State involving the alleged extrajudicial killing of Ogidi Mena, 28-year-old in Effurun, which it described as a brazen act carried out in broad daylight by the Nigerian Police Officer.

Based on eyewitness accounts referenced in the statement, the victim had gone to a motor park along Sapele Road to collect a waybill when he was reportedly found with a firearm allegedly sent through another individual.

He was apprehended by motor park operators, who then alerted the police.

HURIWA alleged that a police patrol team led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, identified as Nuhu Usman, also known as Ogbegbe, took custody of the suspect.

The group claimed that the officer shot the victim during the arrest and that he was later fatally shot again at a police station in Ekpan despite still being alive at the time.

“A senior police officer intervened after hearing gunshots, leading to the disarmament and detention of the officer, with the matter reportedly escalated to higher authorities within the police hierarchy”, it stated.

It also warned that repeated occurrences of such incidents without visible consequences suggest a breakdown in command responsibility and an alarming tolerance for the loss of civilian lives.

The organisation maintained that the fundamental rights to life and human dignity, as guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights frameworks, are being systematically undermined.

The group called for immediate, independent, and transparent investigations into all alleged cases of extrajudicial killings, insisting that any security personnel found culpable must face prosecution through due judicial processes, regardless of rank.

It also urged the Federal Government to establish a structured compensation mechanism for families of victims, noting that financial restitution and support are necessary to address the impact of unlawful killings.

HURIWA further emphasised the need for sweeping institutional reforms within the armed forces and policing systems to strengthen oversight, enforce rules of engagement, and ensure respect for human rights.

It added that it would explore lawful avenues to engage international human rights mechanisms to ensure that allegations of serious violations are independently reviewed in line with global standards.

HURIWA warned that Nigeria cannot continue on a path where citizens live in fear of those entrusted with their protection, stressing that the continued erosion of accountability within security institutions poses a grave threat to democracy, public trust, and national stability.

The organisation reaffirmed its solidarity with victims and their families while reiterating its call for justice, transparency, and urgent reforms to halt what it described as a dangerous trend.