ECOWAS court finds Nigerian gov't guilty of extra-judicial killings

In a landmark ruling, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has awarded $200,000 as compensation to each of the families of eight persons who were killed on September 20, 2013 by Nigerian security agents during a raid on an uncompleted building in Abuja in a search for Boko Haram insurgents.

Issuing the verdict in a case brought by a Nigerian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Security Services, a three–member panel of judges of the Court also asked the government to pay another 150,000 dollars each to the 11 persons who sustained injuries during the raid.

The eight Nigerians were killed when the security personnel opened fire on them on allegations they were linked to Boko Haram.

Nigeria was found liable of brutal killing of defenseless citizens, contrary to the provision of local and international law on the fundamental rights of citizens to life. The court further described the actions by the security operatives as unlawful, illegal and unjustified.

Nigerian army has been fighting Boko Haram who have caused thousands of deaths and displaced many from their homes.