Concerned Nigerians writes to ICC calls for arrest & investigation of Tukur Buratai for crimes against humanity

Concerned Nigerians has written to International Criminal Court, appealing to the body to arrest and investigate the former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai for crimes against humanity.

In a letter titled, “A CALL FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND ARREST OF TUKUR BURATAI” and signed by its convener, Comrade Deji Adeyanju accused the former Chief of Army Staff of killing over 300 defenseless Nigerian Shiite Muslims on the unjustifiable ground that they “touched a general’s chest”.

The Rights group also accused Tukur Buratai of ordering the Nigerian soldiers to kill hundreds of Nigerian citizens of South Eastern extraction, under the guise of searching for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Concerned Nigerians, however said it is on this premise that it is appealing to International Criminal Court to immediately arrest and investigate General Buratai on crimes against humanity.

The letter read in parts:

“Your Excellencies,

“We write to call on the International Criminal Court and all lovers of democracy and human rights in the world to immediately investigate, arrest and prosecute Lieutenant General Buratai (Rtd) who was just relieved of his duty as Chief of Army Staff for crimes against humanity and the Nigerian people.

“It will be recalled that sometimes in 2015, Lieutenant General Buratai (Rtd) ordered members of the Nigerian army to kill over 300 defenseless Nigerian Shiite Muslims on the unjustifiable ground that they “touched a general’s chest”. That event has been appropriately tagged the Zaira massacre and it has further worsened the insecurity situation in Nigeria. Shortly thereafter, Lieutenant Buratai (Rtd) ordered the Nigerian soldiers to kill hundreds of Nigerian citizens of South Eastern extraction, in the guise of searching for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). It is particularly noteworthy to mention that as at the time Lieutenant General Buratai (Rtd) ordered the massacre of IPOB members, the group had not been proscribed by the Nigeria Government. Additionally, we have been able to gather from different independent sources, that Lieutenant General Buratai (Rtd) personally ordered the killing of the innocent protesters at Lekki toll gate, Lagos, on October 20, 2020.

“It is on the basis of the foregoing, among other human rights abuses, that we call on the International Criminal Court and friends of Nigeria to urgently investigate, arrest and prosecute Lieutenant General Buratai (Rtd), to serve as a deterrent to members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and their civilian collaborators who have made it a point of duty to indiscriminately abuse citizens’ human rights.”

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