Showing posts with label Plateau state. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plateau state. Show all posts

Friday, September 9, 2011

OHCHR press briefing note / Nigeria

9 Sep 2011 10:03 Africa/Lagos


OHCHR press briefing note / Nigeria

GENEVA, September 9, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- OHCHR press briefing note / Nigeria

We are concerned about the renewed violence which has flared up in Nigeria's "Middle Belt" in recent weeks causing death, injury and destruction. Reports suggest that up to 70 people have been killed since the beginning of August, in ethnic and religious violence in the area.


Ethnic and religious divisions have affected the Middle Belt region, particularly in and around Jos, for many years now and a cycle of violence has emerged in which each incident almost invariably provokes deadly reprisal attacks. The High Commissioner has previously called for a concerted effort to tackle the underlying causes of such repeated violent outbreaks. Such underlying causes include discrimination, poverty and land disputes.


We encourage the authorities at national and local levels to take effective preventative measures against such violence, including by curbing hate-speech and working with civil society, including human rights NGOs, religious leaders and academic institutions, to attempt reconciliation between the various communities. It is of utmost importance that justice is done and is seen to be done by prosecuting the alleged perpetrators of violence and ensuring remedies for victims and their families.


We are also concerned about the activities of Boko Haram, whose tactics have included attacks on civilians, security forces and government institutions. The group has claimed responsibility for the recent bombing of the UN building – yet another deadly and cowardly attack.

otherwise they risk making the situation worse.


In response to a request for details of recent violence and killings:


According to reports:

- From early to mid-August, 10 people were killed in a number of clashes between Christian and Muslim youths and the military in Jos. At least two more were hacked to death, and four others seriously wounded in a village near Jos.

- On 29 August, Christian youths allegedly attacked Muslims going to prayer in Jos. Unofficial reports suggest that 13 were killed, 106 wounded and that a lot of damage was done to property. Then, on 1 September, at least 23 were reportedly killed in clashes between Christian and Muslim youths. At this point, it is not clear whether or not this was a revenge attack linked to the earlier incident.

- On 4 September, a family of eight was hacked to death, and seven more people were reported killed that evening in attacks by youths on a village near Jos.



Source: United Nations - Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

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10:03 OHCHR press briefing note / Nigeria


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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Italy troubled by religious intolerance in Nigeria


A scene from the December 24, 2010, Jos terrorist bombings in Plateau state of Nigeria. Photo Credit: Gnaija.

28 Dec 2010 04:41 Africa/Lagos


Nigeria / Italy / Minister Frattini expresses concern over episodes of religious intolerance in Nigeria

ROME, December 27, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is following with great concern the dramatic news from Nigeria, where the recent serious episodes of religious intolerance have produced a sad toll of bloodshed.


“As the violence is linked to the profession of a religious creed, those universal principles of peace and goodwill which are the essence of each and every religion are being painfully undermined”, stated Fratttini.


“The firm condemnation of all forms of violence and intolerance is a crucial element of Italy's commitment to freedom of religion and religious tolerance”.


Minister Frattini concluded: “My profound sadness for the victims goes hand in hand with a strong appeal for moderation and peaceful co-existence between different faiths to prevail in Nigeria”.

Ivory Coast, Italian Development Cooperation sends kits


Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is following the situation in Ivory Coast very closely. His concern can be set against the effort by the international community, and the European Union in particular, to ensure that the grave tensions sweeping the country are dampened down. The only legitimate solution to achieve this end is the unconditional acceptance, without further delay, of the outcome of the presidential election held on 28 November.


The humanitarian crisis that has emerged in the wake of the political turmoil and which affects those who have sought refuge in the neighbouring countries of Liberia, Ghana and Guinea is a source of great concern. To make a concrete contribution to tackling the emergency, Minister Frattini has issued instructions to Italy's Development Cooperation to send medical kits to the region. These will support the response plan currently at an advanced state of preparation by the World Health Organisation.


The Development Cooperation medical kits were delivered recently to the United Nations Humanitarian Depot in Brindisi, and from there were shipped to the Depot in Accra. They will be distributed over the next few days to relieve the hardships of the local populations. The operation is worth about 300,000 euros in total.



Source: Italy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs



















































Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
28 Dec 2010
04:41 Nigeria / Italy / Minister Frattini expresses concern over episodes of religious intolerance in Nigeria
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03:41 Côte d'Ivoire / Human Rights Council debates situation of Human Rights in Côte d'Ivoire
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Friday, March 19, 2010

For God And For Nigeria, Don't Give Up!



For God And For Nigeria, Don't Give Up!


Champions of Re-Branding Nigeria will never give up on the great future of our beloved nation Nigeria.

My own mother lost three of her beloved children and elder brother in the Nigerian civil war and about a million of other precious lives were lost and yet the survivors returned to the One and only Federal Republic of Nigeria since 1970 to date.

Nigeria has survived coups and many other bloody conflicts, because we did not give up on the Nigerian Dream.
Maitatsine Riots of the early1980s claimed thousands of lives and Nigeria still moved on.
Over 10, 000 people have been killed in the Niger Delta conflicts over land and oil and Nigeria is still moving on.
The recent gory massacre of over 500 Berom natives in Plateau state left us in shock, but we are not going to give up on Nigeria.

Champions of Re-Branding Nigeria is for citizens of Nigeria and friends of Nigeria who believe in making positive changes in the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations.

Join us on Champions of Re-Branding Nigeria


We are marching on to Victory.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

UN Human rights Chief says New Approach needed to halt Cycle of Violence in Nigeria

9 Mar 2010 18:39 Africa/Lagos

UN human rights chief says new approach needed to halt cycle of violence in Nigeria


GENEVA, March 9, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Tuesday that she was appalled by the latest massacre of hundreds of villagers in the region around Jos in northern Nigeria, and urged the national and local authorities to make a concerted effort to tackle the complex underlying causes of the tension and violence in the region.


The High Commissioner extended her deepest sympathy to the families of the dead and to the wounded from both this weekend's attacks, which some reports suggest may have killed as many as 500 people in three mainly Christian Berom villages, and the earlier attacks in January which also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people in the Jos region, mostly from the predominantly Muslim Hausa Fulana people.


“In both cases, women and children and elderly people were among those who were viciously slaughtered,” Pillay said. “After the January killings, the villages should have been properly protected.”


The High Commissioner noted the efforts of the authorities to put in place a comprehensive security strategy. “Better security is clearly vital,” she said, “but it would be a mistake to paint this purely as sectarian or ethnic violence, and to treat it solely as a security issue. What is most needed is a concerted effort to tackle the underlying causes of the repeated outbreaks of ethnic and religious violence which Nigeria has witnessed in recent years, namely discrimination, poverty and disputes over land. The Government needs to address these issues head-on.”


Pillay also noted allegations that local politicians may have exploited socio-economic, ethnic and religious divisions. “This is an aspect that needs be scrutinized, and if necessary acted upon, if further bouts of violence are to be deterred,” she said.


The High Commissioner stressed that it was essential that the forces of law and order in the Jos region act in a visibly even-handed fashion, and that justice is seen to be done by all sides.


“The job facing the security forces and the judiciary is extremely sensitive,” she said. “It is important to avoid stimulating new resentments, while at the same time ensuring that those responsible for these atrocious acts do not escape justice. This is the third round of deadly violence in the Jos region in three years, leading to a total number of deaths that may exceed 1,000. Clearly, previous efforts to tackle the underlying causes have been inadequate, and in the meantime the wounds have festered and grown deeper.”

Source: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

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9 Mar 2010
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Hillary Clinton Speaks on Violence in Nigeria



9 Mar 2010 00:09 Africa/Lagos

Summary: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on violence in Nigeria and the tragic loss of life. Urges all parties to exercise restraint.


Verbatim: "Before I comment on our meeting, I wish to express our concern for the tragic loss of life in Nigeria. We continue to urge all parties to exercise restraint and seek constructive means for addressing the cycle of violence in Plateau State. The Nigerian government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law and that human rights are respected as order is restored."

Media Contact: Robyn Monblatt, +1-202-647-5160, monblattre@state.gov

Source: U.S. Department of State

Web Site: http://www.state.gov/


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Over 100 Killed as Religious Riots Rage On in Northern Nigeria

Over 100 people have been killed in fresh bloody religious riots raging in Plateau state, as of Tuesday.

Local and foreign journalists in Nigeria have failed to report the facts on the reoccurrence of religious riots in Jos. Many reports said that the violence started after an argument over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes, but eyewitness accounts confirmed that fringe elements in the Muslim community attacked the St. Michael's Anglican Church in downtown Jos Sunday morning. The church was set ablaze with worshippers trapped inside. The aggrieved Christians rose up in self defence. The indigenous Berom have gone on rampage in retaliation.

The police have declared a 24-hour curfew after a dusk to dawn curfew on Monday failed to stem the spread of the clashes as gangs of irate Muslims mobilized at midnight before resuming attacks on Christians in the early hours of Tuesday. Churches, mosques and homes have been torched and thousands of residents and visitors are fleeing to police and military barracks for saftey.


(Additional reports by Mainasara)