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HURIWA accuses President Tinubu of impeachable negligence over mass killings, threatens ICC action

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of “gross dereliction of duty” over the continued killings in Benue and Plateau States, calling his inaction an impeachable offense and threatening to escalate the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Published

1 year ago

April 17, 2025

Emmanuel Abiodun

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a scathing statement condemning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it describes as a “gross dereliction of duty” in the face of ongoing mass killings in Benue and Plateau States.

The organization declared that the President’s failure to halt the widespread violence constitutes an impeachable offence under Nigeria’s Constitution and has threatened to escalate the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

In a strongly worded press release, HURIWA referenced Section 14(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates the protection of citizens’ lives and welfare as the primary purpose of government.

The group alleges that under Tinubu’s leadership, over 2,218 people have been killed in Plateau State alone since 2023, with attacks carried out by armed groups often linked to Fulani militias.

HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, accused the Federal Government of “willful negligence and complicity” in what he described as clear acts of genocide and crimes against humanity.

“The government’s inaction is not only shameful but unlawful. President Tinubu has all the constitutional powers to deploy the military and end these massacres but has failed to do so,” Onwubiko stated.

The statement points to international law, including the Rome Statute and Nigeria’s ratification of the Genocide Convention, emphasizing that the ICC has jurisdiction over crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

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HURIWA signaled ongoing consultations with international partners with the aim of filing a formal complaint at the ICC.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, the organization referenced allegations by Genocide Watch President, Dr. Gregory Stanton, who in previous years described the killings by Fulani militias as “genocidal massacres” with systematic patterns of ethnic cleansing.

The National Assembly, which has been largely silent on the matter, also came under fire for failing to hold the military and executive accountable.

As pressure mounts, HURIWA has called for immediate action: either President Tinubu must decisively stop the killings or face impeachment by the National Assembly and potential international prosecution.

More updates to follow as this story develops.