Nigeria Accused of Oppression
US human rights activists accused the Nigeria government yesterday of torturing and killing scores of its critics over the past two years and urged the Commonwealth to address the abuses at its summit in Abuja this weekend. Human Rights Watch said at least 100 people had been killed...
US human rights activists accused the Nigeria government yesterday of torturing and killing scores of its critics over the past two years and urged the Commonwealth to address the abuses at its summit in Abuja this weekend.
Human Rights Watch said at least 100 people had been killed during elections in April and May, which foreign observers said were marred by serious fraud.
The group also said that at least a dozen people had been killed by security forces during a strike over fuel prices in June and July.
The charges were dismissed as "exaggerated" by a spokesman for President Olesegun Obasanjo. He said Nigeria's democracy should be "supported and encouraged, not kicked down".
The Queen is to open the Commonwealth heads of government meeting on Friday, amid tight security.
Human Rights Watch said at least 100 people had been killed during elections in April and May, which foreign observers said were marred by serious fraud.
The group also said that at least a dozen people had been killed by security forces during a strike over fuel prices in June and July.
The charges were dismissed as "exaggerated" by a spokesman for President Olesegun Obasanjo. He said Nigeria's democracy should be "supported and encouraged, not kicked down".
The Queen is to open the Commonwealth heads of government meeting on Friday, amid tight security.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Spanish Look Into Death of Nigerian First Lady After Cosmetic Surgery
- Brown to Hold Nigerian Oil Summit
- Cracks Begin to Show at Summit Discussing Gay Clergy Rift
- Nigeria Takes on Big Tobacco Over Campaigns That Target the Young
- Children Are Targets of Nigerian Witch Hunt
- Briton Among Hostages in Nigerian Oilfield
- British Girl Kidnapped in Nigeria is Released
- Nigerian Kidnappers Threaten to Kill British Girl
- British Girl, Three, Kidnapped in Nigeria
- Nigerian Gang Kidnaps Young Daughter of British Oil Consultant on Way to School
- British Girl Kidnapped in Nigeria, Police Say
- Nigeria Sues Pfizer for $7bn Over 'illegal' Tests on Children
- Christians Live in Dread As New, Local Taliban Rises in the North of Nigeria
- Ruling Party Candidate Wins 'flawed' Nigerian Election
- Ruling Party Named Winner in Disputed Nigerian Election
- Calls for Rerun of 'sham' Elections Dismissed By Nigerian Government As Coup Attempt
- Bombings and Chaos Blight Nigerian Polls
- Nigerians Go to Polls Amid Fresh Claims of Fraud
- Nigeria Law Would Ban Gays from Associating