As multiple bomb attacks in many parts of Nigeria continue to result in a high death toll, a civil society group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo “To urgently intervene to stop the mass killings and injuries to several innocent Nigerians, including a journalist, across the country.”
In a petition dated January 22, 2012 and signed by the group’s lawyer, Femi Falana, they want Mr Ocampo to investigate the complicity of some security agencies regarding allegations of mass killings across Nigeria, and continuing attacks against innocent Nigerians, which may amount to crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the international criminal court.”
According to the organization, “While several citizens continue to be killed and injured, key suspects have reportedly escaped from police custody apparently with the complicity and/or negligence of some security officials.”
The organization expressed concern that “a cycle of violence has had an injurious effect on development and has been a core source of instability and insecurity in many parts of the country”
They want the ICC to urgently commence an investigation into the allegations of the mass killings across several states of Nigeria, including Kano state, Yobe state, Niger state, Borno state and Bayelsa state, with a view to determining whether these amount to crimes against humanity within the court’s jurisdiction and bring them to justice.
