NHRC probes alleged killing of 492 Shiites

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has confirmed that it is looking into the alleged illegal killing of 492 Shiites by the army and the police between 2014 and 2018.

The confirmation was contained in a letter dated November 7, 2018 and signed by Valerie Duruh in response to a petition sent by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

In a copy of the letter sent to The Guardian yesterday, Duruh, a staff of the commission, stated: “The complaint is receiving attention. You will be informed of the outcome of our investigation on the matter in due course.”

Falana had complained that “in spite of the duty imposed on the Federal Government to respect the fundamental rights of every person living in Nigeria, the army and police had embarked on systematic infringements on the rights of the Shiites to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of association and assembly.