The legal counsels to the Cattle Dealers Association of Dei-Dei International Market, Maiduguri, Borno State, are demanding justice for 14 of their members who have been illegally detained by the Nigerian military despite a court judgment ordering their release.
The lawyers, Siraj Hamza and Ahmed Aliyu, condemned the military’s actions and called for an end to the ongoing abuses and unlawful detention.
The 14 cattle dealers were arrested on May 17, 2024, while traveling to Tashan Alade Cattle market to purchase cattle for the annual Eid el-Kabir festival. They were stopped by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) for a routine security check, during which the CJTF discovered N88,737,200 in cash meant for purchasing cattle.
Allegedly, the CJTF demanded a bribe for their release, threatening detention if they didn’t comply.
According to the lawyers, the dealers who refused to engage in corrupt practices were detained and transferred to a military outpost for interrogation.
They were later moved to the Headquarters of Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai in Damaturu, marking the beginning of their prolonged ordeal.
On August 6, 2024, the court ruled in favour of the dealers, ordering their immediate release. However, the Nigerian Army has ignored these court orders, leading to further legal action for contempt.
The lawyers called for international scrutiny of Nigerian security agencies, particularly the military, which has been accused of human rights violations against civilians.
They also called on the Attorney General of the Federation to implement mechanisms for auditing and monitoring detention facilities across Nigeria to prevent further abuses.
They added that the detention of these individuals drew significant attention, especially when Alhaji Shagari Usman Yusuf, the chairman of the association, attempted to secure their release. He was subsequently arrested and reportedly subjected to severe mistreatment while in custody.
The lawyers initiated two fundamental human rights enforcement suits against the military, demanding the immediate release of the detainees and compliance with court orders.
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