ECOWAS Court Finds Nigerian Government Guilty of Extra-judicial Killings of Squatters at Apo Legislative Quarters

By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has found the  Nigerian government guilty of extra-judicial killings of 8 persons in the deadly 20th of September, 2013 raid of an uncompleted building at Apo residential area by officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Department of Security Services (DSS).

Twelve other persons also suffered various degrees of gunshot injuries‎ during the attack.

The court therefore ordered the payment of$200,000.00 to the families of each of the persons killed in the raid and $150,000.00  to the 12 others who were injured from the attacks.

The court described the actions by the security operatives as unlawful, illegal and unjustified.

ECOWAS court rejected the argument of the Federal Government that the incident occurred in the course of maintaining the rule of law.

It held that though the Nigerian government had a duty to maintain law and order in the society, it had a  corresponding duty to protect innocent citizens caught in the cross fire as well as providing remedy for victims who suffer loss of body, limbs and property in the cross fire under International Humanitarian Law.

Further details later