Photo: Agatu people storm National Assembly, demand justice following Agatu massacre by suspected herdsmen
The indigenes and inhabitants of Agatu Community in Benue State have dragged the Federal government to court over recent killing perpetrated by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The Plaintiffs are indigenes and inhabitants of Agatu Community in Benue State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They are Community Citizens, predominantly farmers, hunters and fishermen dwelling in rural settlements.
The Defendant is Nigeria, a Member State and a signatory to the Revised Treaty establishing the Economic Community of West Africa States, (“ECOWAS”) 1993.
They argued that Nigeria has a responsibility to recognize and protect the human rights of Citizens within the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the attached court papers, the plaintiffs detailed how on several occassions, they and other villagers were attacked in their Communities by heavily armed men.
The army of attackers reportedly formed rings round the dwelling houses and then set fires to the buildings.
Thereafter, they laid siege and killed – through gunshots, arrows and machetes – the inhabitants running out of the burning houses.
On the relief for payment of damages, they submit that the Applicants deserve damages in view of the arbitrary, oppressive, illegal and cruel conduct of the Defendant.
The Federal Government of Nigeria stood by, not once or twice but on several occasions, while its citizens were massacred in the Agatu communities.
They submit that once this Court finds the Defendant’s actions to be a breach of the Plaintiffs’ rights and against the letters and spirit of the binding international instruments; it is bound to pay damages to the Plaintiffs.
See the details of the suit below:
IN THE COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE
OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS)
HOLDEN AT ABUJA, NIGERIA
SUIT NO:………………..
BETWEEN
1. DANJUMA OLOTU
2. CHIEF MORU AKWUCHI
3. ALIDU ADAIKWU
4. YUNUSA SALEH
5. YAHAYA MOMOH
6. MAIKASUWA AHMED EJEMA EGA PLAINTIFFS
(For themselves and as representatives of the victims in Ogwumogbo,
Egba, Okokolo, Akwu. Obagaji, Okpachenyi, Ejema Ega and Ekpele
Communities in Agatu, Benue State, Nigeria)
AND
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA DEFENDANT
ORIGINATING APPLICATION PURSUANT TO
ARTICLE 9 (4) OF THE PROTOCOL OF THE COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE, ECOWAS (AS AMENDED BY SUPPLEMENTARY PROTOCOL A/SP.1/01/05); ARTICLE 33 OF THE RULES OF THE COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE, ECOWAS; ARTICLE 4 PARAGRAGH (G) OF THE REVISED TREATY OF ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES, 1993; ARTICLES 1, 3, 4, 5, 14, 16, 18 & 19 OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS, 1981; AND ARTICLES 3, 5, 12, 17 & 30 OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 1948.
1. NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THE PLAINTIFFS:
i) Danjuma OLOFU
ii) Chief Moru AKWUCHI
iii) Alidu ADAIKWU
iv) Yunusa SALEH
v) Yahaya MOMOH
vi) Maikasuwa Ahmed EJEMA EGA
ALL OF: Agatu Communities,
Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria
2. DESIGNATION OF THE DEFENDANT
Federal Republic of NIGERIA
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