Franks: Nigeria's Climate of Impunity is Fueling Sectarian Violence and Terrorism

Members of International Religious Freedom Caucus Call on the Nigerian Government to Ensure Justice and Religious Freedom

March 29, 2010 - Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) and Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Co-chairs of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, along with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-09), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Joseph Pitts (PA-16), and Frank Wolf (VA-10), sent the following letter to Martin Uhomoibhi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria.  This letter follows a Caucus hearing in October 2009 which addressed growing concerns with sectarian attacks and terrorist threats throughout Northern and Central Nigeria, and specifically addresses concerns that those responsible for the attacks on Christians in Jos, Plateau State, which occurred in November 2008, have yet to be brought to justice after more than a year of impunity.  Congressman Franks welcomes the recent action taken by acting President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ministry of Justice, and hopes they will do everything they can to ensure that the rule of law and religious freedom are respected in Jos and throughout Nigeria.

A PDF copy of the letter is attached.  The text of the letter appears below:

March 25, 2010

The Honorable Martin Uhomoibhi

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria

Maputo Street

Wuse Zone 3

P.M.B.130, Barki

Abuja, Nigeria

Dear Mr. Uhomoibhi,

It is with deep concern that we write to express our genuine sorrow over the hundreds of innocent men, women, and children, who were brutally murdered in sectarian attacks in and around Jos in Plateau state during January and March, 2010.  The continued violence in Jos highlights the urgent need to address the past decade of sectarian violence and reprisal attacks that have plagued the Muslim and Christian communities in Northern and Central Nigeria, resulting in the death of at least 12,000 Nigerians and the widespread destruction of religious and private property.   Sectarian attacks have created a climate of fear and impunity that have begun to affect Nigeria’s historic commitment to social harmony, religious freedom, democracy and national security.

From the violence in Kaduna state (February and May 2000 and November 2002) to the violence in Jos in Plateau state (September 2001, November 2008), Kano state and Yelwa in Plataeu state (February-May 2004), northern and southeastern Nigeria following the publication of the Danish cartoons (February 2006), Bauchi (February 2009), Maiduguri in Borno state following attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram (July 2009), and the most recent violence in and around Jos, these violent sectarian incidents must be addressed at the national level to prevent further acts of terror on religious communities and their freedoms throughout Nigeria.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an agency established by Congress to provide recommendations for protecting the international standard for religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy, has recommended that Nigeria be designated as a “country of particular concern” for “tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”  The Commission points to the “inadequate and ineffectual” response of the Nigerian government to persistent religious freedom violations and the violent sectarian and communal conflicts which have taken place along religious lines and created a climate of impunity.  Moreover, the Commission has criticized the lack of any serious efforts to investigate or prosecute the perpetrators of the violence over the past decade throughout Nigeria, including no serious oversight by the Ministry of Justice or the National Human Rights Commission. 

Following her visit to Nigeria in 2005, the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion or belief also concluded that impunity was a serious obstacle to the enjoyment of religious freedom in Nigeria.  She stated, “impunity further strengthens the fears of those who have been affected by previous instances of violence and inherently limits the enjoyment of their right to freely manifest their religion or belief…impunity therefore only escalates religious intolerance.” 

While we recognize that the recent tensions in and around Jos and other incidents throughout Northern and Central Nigeria arise from a complex political and social history, impunity and injustice have only fueled sectarian and communal divisions.  Unless these issues are addressed immediately, we fear that this situation will breed more terrorism within Nigeria that could affect other parts of the world.  According to the recent conclusion of the Nigerian House of Representatives committee investigating the November 2008 violence in Jos, the violence plaguing Nigeria is “absolutely avoidable.”  It is imperative that the government immediately take all steps necessary to prevent such violence in the future.

As an ally of the United States, we look forward to working with the Government of Nigeria to strengthen impartiality within the military, develop an early warning mechanism to prevent violence, and strengthen the justice system to prevent further impunity for those responsible for inciting and carrying out sectarian violence.  We understand that as recently as this week, the Ministry of Justice has – under new leadership – began to file cases in Abuja and Jos against those responsible for the violence earlier this month.  These new efforts, along with statements condemning the failure of the government in Jos to investigate and prosecute the recent violence made by the Governors Forum of Nigeria are welcomed signs that the climate of impunity may soon come to an end.  We sincerely hope these new efforts are successful in this regard.  Given your personal commitment to maintaining social harmony and religious freedom within Nigeria, we hope you will raise these concerns with the Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Commission, and members of the national legislature to encourage the new efforts taking place and ensure immediate and discernible oversight of violence targeting religious communities and justice for the victims of past sectarian violence. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider our concerns and we look forward to meeting with you personally the next time you are in Washington, D.C. to discuss how we can continue to work together to strengthen our important bi-lateral relationship with the Government of Nigeria.

Sincerely,

s/Trent Franks

s/Emanuel Cleaver, II                        

s/Gus M. Bilirakis

s/Frank Wolf

s/Joseph R. Pitts

s/Chris Smith

Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.