Apo Six: FEC approves action plan to protect human rights

The federal executive council (FEC) has approved an action plan to promote and protect human rights in the country.

The plan, which will be effective from 2022 to 2026, was formulated by stakeholders in the ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday after the weekly FEC meeting, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said the plan was meant to “consolidate and upscale” efforts of the government to ensure citizens’ rights are protected.

The FEC meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Malami said the Buhari-led federal government prioritises human rights which informed why it paid N135 million to victims of Apo Six.

“The essence of the presentation of the council memo today is to deliberate on the action plan, review it and seek approval for its conservation or presentation before the International Human Rights Committee,” the AGF said.

“For the purpose of establishing that Nigeria is no longer operating at a local scale in terms of the observance and promotion of human rights, but indeed upscaling its international observance to international best practices as far as the human rights, promotion and protection of human rights is concerned.

“I am happy to report that the council deliberated and the council approved the action plan presentation before the International Committee on Human Rights.”

APO SIX KILLINGS

On June 7, 2005, Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Augustina Arebu, Anthony Nwokike, Paulinus Ogbonna, and Ekene Isaac Mgbe were driving home from a nightclub when they encountered a team of police officers on patrol at Garki junction in Abuja.

Earlier at the club, Danjuma Ibrahim, then deputy commissioner of police, was said to have made advances at one of them, Augustina Arebu, the only female among the victims. She was said to have “rudely” turned down Ibrahim’s advances.

Ibrahim then allegedly left the club and reported to the police officers at a checkpoint on Gimbiya street, by Ahmadu Bello Way, Apo, that he had sighted a gang of armed robbers.

When the victims arrived at the checkpoint, the police officers opened fire on their Peugeot saloon car and four of them died on the spot — allegedly on the order of Ibrahim.

The last two victims were allegedly killed in the morning. The victims were reportedly buried in two shallow graves in Utako, Abuja.