The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration over what it termed ‘the failure to protect the rights to life, security, and dignity of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and the failure to secure the safe release of those held captive by the terrorists.’
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that on March 28th, terrorists attacked the AK9 Abuja–Kaduna train, killing no fewer than nine persons, injuring many others, and kidnapping an unknown number of passengers.
The victims are still in the captivity of the terrorists for over four weeks, despite repeated appeals for the federal government to free them from captivity.
In the suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/20/22 and filed last week before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja last week, SERAP is seeking ‘a declaration that the train attack, abductions and killings of passengers by terrorists amount to a failure by the government to protect Nigerians, and to prevent these grave human rights violations.’
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The suit was filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Opeyemi Owolabi and Kolawole Oluwadare.
The organisation is also seeking ‘an order directing the Buhari government to urgently find and identify all the passengers, victims and their families, and to pay adequate monetary compensation of N50million to each of the passengers and victims and their families.’
SERAP in their arguments postulated that the Buhari administration has a legal duty as clearly stipulated in the constitution to protect individuals from immediate and real risks to their lives and security caused by actions of third parties, such as terrorists and insurgents operating in various parts of the country.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the case is yet to be assigned to judges for hearing and consequent ruling.
Africa Daily News, New York
