, Dec 5 () –
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has asked the Nigerian authorities to resume without delay the investigations into the Inates massacre: the appearance of several mass graves with dozens of bodies presumably killed by a group of soldiers.
Specifically, they are six graves found last year that contained 71 bodies, victims of summary executions, and the fate of another 31 people who disappeared during the attacks that, according to reports, took place between 27 and 29, have yet to be known. March and April 2 in this town in the Tillabéri region, in the west of the country. Niger’s National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) implicated “uncontrolled” soldiers in these killings.
In her final assessment after a two-day visit to the African country, Bachelet “expressed concern that investigations into the massacres appear to be on hold.”
Likewise, Bachelet has asked the Government of Niger to take measures to discourage the formation of so-called “self-defense groups”, linked to attacks against the civilian population, such as the one that occurred last month in Banibangou, also in Tillabéri, where allegedly Some 84 people died last month.
“The international community,” Bachelet valued, “must support the country in its attempts to comprehensively address the security situation, climate change, and the humanitarian and development situation.”
On a positive note, Bachelet highlighted the successful holding of local, parliamentary and presidential elections late last year and early this year, which resulted in a peaceful and democratic political transition.
“The high rate of political participation and the holding of the elections, despite the overwhelming challenges described above, show that the response of the Nigerian people to the growing insecurity is to unite to secure and defend their rights,” he concluded.
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