Human Rights Commission begins Investigation into Zamfara Killings

The killings of eight people in Zamfara State over blasphemy is being investigated by the National Human Rights Commission.

An angry mob had lynched a student for alleged blasphemy against islam, which prompted a man simply known as Tajudeen to rush him to an hospital.

The crowd clearly unhappy with Tajudeen’s actions marched to his house  and burned it, killing 8 persons. Get full gist Here.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, disclosed this on Tuesday evening in Abuja.

“We have already asked our Sokoto office to proceed there to commence investigation,” Angwe’s text message to Punch read.

Reacting to the incident, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said justice must prevail and the perpetrators must be brought to book.

Falana said he was not surprised, stating that security operatives who are supposed to protect us also involve in extrajuducial killings.

He said, “The extrajudicial killing of eight unarmed Nigerians on allegation of apostasy is very barbaric and unacceptable.

“The police must move in speedily to investigate, arrest the suspects and charge them to court without any delay.

“Much as the brutal killing is condemnable, it is not new given the fact that security forces in our country have consistently engaged in extrajudicial killings of criminal suspects and other innocent demonstrators without any justification.

“In other words, if a government can announce publicly that its soldiers killed 248 citizens and buried their body in a shallow grave, what do you expect?

“This is one killing too many. From the North to the South and from the East to the West, it is the killing of demonstrators.”