LAGOS, Nigeria (Chatnewstv.com) — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently refer the violence and mass killings in Benue State to the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing decades-long atrocities that amount to crimes under international law.
In a letter dated June 22 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the group urged the president to seek ICC jurisdiction over the “unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law” in Benue and other affected states.
“Your government has a primary responsibility to ensure accountability, justice, and reparations for these grave human rights crimes,” the letter read. “Referring the situation in Benue State to the ICC would contribute to achieving your expressed commitment to hunt down the perpetrators of the attacks and bring them to justice.”
SERAP also urged Tinubu to consider requesting the ICC prosecutor to expand any ongoing investigations in Nigeria to cover other states witnessing similar violence, including Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Plateau, Taraba, and Borno.
In a widely circulated statement, Professor James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and Benue’s paramount ruler, described the situation as “a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits, which has been going on for decades and is worsening every year.”
According to SERAP, the ICC can hold both state and non-state actors accountable. “Any reluctance to refer the situation to the ICC would continue to embolden perpetrators… to attack the people of the state with impunity,” the organization stated.
The group noted that under Article 14 of the Rome Statute, to which Nigeria is a party, the country is legally empowered to refer the matter without needing to provide evidence initially, which would allow the ICC Prosecutor to assess whether a full investigation is warranted.
“Justice is not an optional extra,” SERAP said. “It is an absolutely essential prerequisite for vindicating people’s rights. A referral to the ICC would ultimately strengthen the capacity of Nigeria’s domestic justice system.”
SERAP also pointed to recent attacks in the state. “At least 100 people have been killed in Yelewata and Dauda communities, and 3,000 displaced, according to Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency,” it said. “Last month alone, 42 people were shot dead in Gwer West.”
The group concluded by warning that it would approach other states parties to the Rome Statute for referral if the Nigerian government fails to act within seven days.
“Referring the situation in Benue to the ICC would send a powerful message that those who commit grave violations of international law—whether state actors or armed groups—will not escape justice,” SERAP said.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
