Rights organisation calls for investigation into killings

The London-based human rights organisation, Amnesty International (AI), has called for "a prompt, effective and impartial inquiry" into reports that soldiers have shot dead more than 100 people in central Nigeria in reprisal
for the murder of soldiers.

"It appears that the attack by the troops was an act of revenge which went on for three days," the organisation said in a statement on Wednesday.

Noting that there was no imminent danger to the life of soldiers who took part in the military operation, AI said their action could only be described as "a killing spree".

"Rather than seeking to deny, minimise or justify these extrajudicial executions, the government of Nigeria must - if it is to prevent further deaths - condemn the killings publicly and make it clear that those responsible will be held accountable," AI said.

So far, there are conflicting figures on the number of the dead but it appears that more than 100 people, possibly as many as 200 were killed in villages along the border between Benue and Taraba States when soldiers went on the rampage and opened fire on civilians between 22 and 24 October, AI said.

Many houses were also destroyed during the attack and thousands rendered homeless. Nigerian military authorities have denied responsibility for the attacks.

The organisation has called on the Nigerian government to "take immediate steps" to identify both those responsible for the murder of the 19 soldiers and the officers who ordered or took part in the "unlawful reprisal actions".